Roadnet

In 1983, before the internet was in every home, a tech startup called Roadnet Systems Corp. was founded to solve a complex problem: creating the most efficient routes for delivery fleets. Before their PC-based software, transportation managers relied mostly on instinct and the experience of veteran drivers to plan deliveries. Roadnet introduced technology and algorithms to what had been an analog process, helping companies optimize routes, save on fuel, and improve driver productivity. Just three years after its founding, the company's potential caught the eye of a major player. In 1986, United Parcel Service (UPS) acquired Roadnet Systems, renaming it UPS Logistics Technologies. For over two decades, the company developed its technology under the UPS umbrella. But in 2010, UPS decided to focus on technology more directly tied to its own global network and sold the division to private equity firm Thoma Bravo. Rebranded as Roadnet Technologies, it was once again an independent company. The final major turn came in 2013 when Roadnet was acquired by Omnitracs, a fleet management solutions provider that had just been purchased from Qualcomm by Vista Equity Partners. This move aimed to create a comprehensive platform for fleet management, from long-haul trucking to last-mile delivery. Today, Roadnet's software continues as part of the Solera family of companies, which later acquired Omnitracs.