Jett McCandless named first FreightTech Vanguard Award winner at F3

Jett McCandless, founder and CEO of project44 and LSP44, was named the inaugural recipient of the FreightTech Vanguard Award during FreightWaves' F3: Future of Freight Festival dinner on Monday. At the event in Chattanooga, Tennessee, McCandless was honored for his contributions to the freight and logistics industry. The FreightTech 25 ranking, which identifies the 25 most influential freight technology companies, was also announced at the event.

While the rankings gauge current influence, the Vanguard Award celebrates founders for their long-term impact. McCandless was chosen independently by FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller, who praised the founder's perseverance and grit. McCandless, who founded project44 in 2014 to provide real-time visibility into shipments and supply chains, cited the company's expansion into two businesses - project44 and LSP44 - as evidence of its growth.

The company now serves 286,000 carriers in 194 countries and handles over 700 million events daily. McCandless dedicated the award to the individuals who handle freight's worst moments, referencing his own experience answering 2 a.m. calls. He emphasized the need for AI agents capable of understanding the unique needs of different businesses within the freight industry.

McCandless concluded by encouraging other founders to persevere through the challenging aspects of their work.