Transplace.com Hires Firms for Web Initiative

International Business Machines Corp.’s Global Services division and Ariba Inc. were hired Aug. 8 by Transplace.com — the transportation online marketplace started in March by J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and five other trucking firms. IBM and Ariba will handle Web-host consulting and browser-based auction technology, respectively.

That will give the Plano, Texas, firm, which is already conducting logistics business, the capability for true business-to-business transactions. Applications will include the ability for carriers to buy consumables — tires, batteries, engine parts and eventually even insurance — from Transplace.com’s suppliers at negotiated rates.

The buying power of Transplace.com, with 1,500 carrier memberships representing 220,000 tractors and 800,000 trailers, will ensure discount pricing.

Dave Haeusler, chief information officer for Transplace.com’s logistics division, said the company is already growing at a rate that will translate into 30 to 40 percent per year.

“All of our customers can interact with us using EDI lines or, when the technology is more widespread, using XML lines,” Haeusler said. “We’re still in the process of upgrading some of our technology, but we already think we’re a click-and-mortar [business] with the leverage and Internet capabilities to serve all of our customers’ needs.”