The business of carrying goods in the United States is dominated by trucks, which serve about two -thirds 20.2 billion tons of freight It is transported every yr. Parallel systems The founder and general director, Matt Soule, wants to vary it by placing a modern autonomous and electric return in a century -old railway system.
The company based in Los Angeles builds autonomous freight technologies powered by a battery that works with existing freight cars and integrates with existing train control software. Pitch Soule: Parallel system makes firms cheaper to make use of the turn-and not trucks-for short distances.
The railway was traditionally unused, because the trains are normally powered by large and expensive locomotives, which pull a whole bunch of freight cars in the future, Soule explained TechCrunch. Companies often ask trucks to transfer shorter distances.
Parallel systems have developed a system that permits cars to tug and disconnect autonomous. This signifies that firms can use Parallel technology for different sizes of supply, and people do not have to attach and disconnect cars manually – a dangerous process. Soule added that Parallel technology also allows freight cars much faster than existing trains.
“We use a different physical architecture to achieve competitive economics of trucks on a small scale, not a large scale,” said Soule. “The vehicle itself is compatible with the existing railway infrastructure. It has been designed and demonstrated to act next to traditional railway operations. We do not suggest replacing existing freight trains.”
Paralled has recently been approved by the Federal Administration of Railroad to begin the pilot technology in Georgia. This program will allow the company to check its trains supporting technology along the 160-kilometer section between the Savannah port in Savannah, Georgia and many distribution places in the state.
Parallel has recently raised a round of series B with a value of $ 38 million led by Anthos Capital with the participation of a cooperation fund, stopping ventures and riots. This gives complete funds parallel to over $ 100 million. Fresh Capital can be allocated to commercialization with a company that hopes to prepare the initial business premiere in 2026.
Sophie Bakalar, a partner of Collaboration Fund, said Techcrunch that although it does not match her general thesis developed by the consumer in parallel, the company was intrigued by the company after the introduction by the existing founder in their portfolio.
While the Cooperation Fund normally does not invest in this area, shipping and movement of products have a great impact on the cooperation of consumer firms, it is normally supported, adding that it is difficult to disregard a good opportunity-even if it is outside the thesis.
“I think this team is really specially prepared to solve this problem,” said Bakalar. “Just few people will be able to do it. I think it is a band that has a matching of the founder-producer. It is a huge market and a huge challenge.”
Soule does not in particular the background in the queue. However, he has a work history in regulated transport. He spent 20 years in Aviation, of which 13 were in SpaceX.
“We were constantly developing new technologies,” said Soule. “I worked in avionics, which is electronics and software that controls the rocket and is very interested in how all these technologies can benefit other types of industries that perhaps did not see such a large innovation.”
He launched the company in 2020, and now, five years later, Parallel built technology and focuses on commercialization.
While firms might be a big feat to vary shipping and distribution strategy, the demand for various solutions is, said soule. He added that they were interested from around the world, but for now they are planning to focus on the USA and Australia.
This message also appears when the US is hanging Limbo tariffs. If the tariffs are over, Bakalar predicts that it may possibly increase the demand for firms similar to Parallel, because firms will probably reduce costs in any way.
“This is a generational innovation in terms of freight and you don’t see many changes in the freight industry,” said Soule. “But it strikes points that matter.”