In this episode of TPM Today, Angi Acocella from MIT’s FreightLab shares how academic research is directly influencing the freight industry. From improving procurement to addressing driver retention, MIT’s work aims to solve real-world problems in transportation.
Bridging Academia and Industry
FreightLab collaborates with shippers, carriers, and brokers to identify challenges and test practical, data-driven solutions.
Acocella, a research scientist at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics, transitioned from engineering into freight after discovering many tech issues stemmed from logistics.
The Role of Tech in Freight
Technology adoption in trucking is growing but uneven. Procurement tech and dynamic pricing APIs show promise but need stronger ROI to drive widespread adoption.
Transportation Management Systems (TMS) are also evolving, integrating better with pricing and routing tools.
Long-Term Research, Immediate Needs
One challenge Acocella sees is aligning MIT’s multi-year research cycles with industry’s demand for faster ROI. Communication is key—researchers must translate findings into actionable insights for business leaders.
Focus on Drivers
FreightLab is also studying driver well-being, including fatigue and routing strategies that support home time—critical for retention. While not studying language policies directly, the team connects these regulations to broader workforce availability issues.
MIT FreightLab continues to drive innovation in freight, applying research with real-world impact—one data model and collaboration at a time.
