Logistics is an extremely competitive segment, of high operational costs, financial risks and high capital investment that end up putting pressure on the sector's margins. Driving on a still quite analog and inefficient road, a logtech Freto, that acts as a digital carrier for low and medium value-added industries, showed a 45% increase in its gross margin in the year 2024, reaching, also, the profitability of the business
For six years in the market, the recipe found by the company was a not completely digital approach, not completely root, as CEO Thomas Gautier likes to emphasize, explaining that the sector opens doors to technology when it sees value in practical knowledge, transmitted by professionals with real experience in the pains of their businesses. Up to here, more than R$ 13 billion in freight was transported, moving more than 106 million tons across Brazil
One of the main logistical bottlenecks that Freto solves with innovation is the subcontracting of road freight. "Hiring a large carrier and that same company subcontracting another carrier is what we call outsourcing", outsourcing, and even quinterization. The result is the loss of control for the contractor, sometimes total, of the good that is being transported. Already with the Freight, the industry has 100% visibility of the operations of the carrier that handled the cargo, explain Gautier
It's as if Freto acts like the Uber of industrial logistics, maintaining a qualified pool of drivers, is able to take on all stages of transportation for its contractors – that's where technology comes in. Last year, the company grew its fleet base reaching 217 thousand vehicles, attending more than 3.300 cities in Brazil with a delivery effectiveness index (SLA) of 99,9%. In 2024, the number of trips increased by 15%, surpassing 55 thousand hires, growth originated from the continuous improvement of processes and the expansion of its customer base
Focusing on steel mills, cement companies and other suppliers of raw materials for construction, Freto saw its operations double in Minas Gerais, pulled by the high demand in the mining sector. In 2024, the company invested in a new branch in the state. Beyond the Southeast, logtech is also growing in the Northeast, region that will remain in the growth plans for 2025
Scaling phase
Those who also liked Freto's performance and ability to balance the accounts were its investors (among them, Edenred Capital Partners Fund and Galló families, Corrêa da Silva and Stumpf) who at the beginning of 2024 invested R$ 12,3 million in a follow-on, totaling R$ 34,8 million invested so far
In the first years, the company focused on the MVP (Minimum Viable Product), testing the solution and validating the product's viability. This period, it was crucial to understand if the idea really made sense in the market. The goal was to validate the concept and adjust the first versions of the product, without losing sight of user needs and market demands
In 2021, we have gone through an important transition. We have moved from the incubation phase to a more structured and independent business model. This change was marked by the pursuit of solving the sector's pain points and the creation of a scalable platform, able to grow and sustain itself in the market in the long term. This process required a lot of planning, reflection and continuous adjustments, but it was fundamental in establishing what we call "viable business models", that laid the foundation for our future, Gautier states
In 2024, Freto has completed an important stage of opening up to the market, testing different ways to generate revenue, understanding the costs involved and mapping how to make the model sustainable in the long term. Always keeping a close eye on the excellence of the service provided, to the security in operations and to the reduction of costs and profitability of each client, each operation
For 2025, the CEO believes that the economy will bring important challenges to the sector. The rise of the dollar and high interest rates are two of the main sources of tension. The unstable exchange rate can impact the cost of imported inputs and raw materials, making price forecasting difficult and increasing pressure on operating costs. Furthermore, the maintenance of high interest rates tends to make credit more expensive, making it difficult for companies' cash flow, that will need to adopt agile and innovative strategies to minimize the impacts of these economic variables, focusing on operational efficiency and strict cost management to maintain its competitiveness, concludes
About Freight
With the purpose of simplifying road logistics, moving truck drivers, Freto is a digital carrier where the best truck drivers and the best loads from industries meet. An organization that was born 100% digital with technology and 100% grassroots, based on the solid know-how of a team with years of experience on Brazilian highways, focused on combating the inefficiencies of the traditional model. Operating as a logtech, the company eliminates fleet subcontracting, increases the base of truck drivers and takes on all stages of transportation with technology. These loads are published by large grain producers, sugar, steel mills, paper and cellulose manufacturers and cement companies, that use the fleet of 217 thousand vehicles from Freto to distribute their products throughout Brazil. Freights can be accepted in up to 1 minute, gaining agility, strengthening areas of action and reducing operational costs. Among the main pillars of the company are the excellence of the service provided, safety in operations and reduction of costs and profitability of each client
Since its foundation, in 2018, by the end of 2024, the company
– Moved more than 106 million tons of cargo
– Accumulated more than R$13 billion in effectively contracted freight and R$2,7 million contracted loads
