The formal launch of the app – which matches trucking companies with freight – was not unexpected and marks its long-anticipated entrance into the trucking industry.

Uber said in a statement that the location-based app will relieve stress for drivers by confirming rates and loads “within seconds” and delivering payments within a few days.

“Uber Freight is committed to paying within a few days, fee-free, for every single load,” the company said. “When things don’t go as planned or drivers have to wait longer than expected, we pay for that too.”

According to US publication Heavy Duty Trucking, the app is mainly targeting owner-operators and small fleets of 10 trucks or less.

With the app, they can find dry or refrigerated freight according to parameters like where and when they want to pick it up, where the load is bound and the price offered among other factors.

Uber Freight product lead, Eric Berdinis, said there were no near-term plans to link Uber Freight with autonomous trucks.

“Certainly when Uber bought (autonomous truck technology company) Otto, it whet its appetite for what it could do in the trucking space,” he said.

“Right now that’s two separate teams working on two separate paths.”

By Neil Dowling