Highway and Motive have restored the data connection between their platforms, ending a disruption that began after Motive restricted Highway’s access to electronic logging device (ELD) data from carriers that had authorized the connection.
In a joint statement, the two companies confirmed that they had reached an agreement to restore the frequency at which Highway can access Motive customer data when that access has been authorized by the carrier. The disruption followed Motive’s decision to limit the application programming interface (API) connection between the two platforms while indicating that Highway would need to compensate the company for access to the data.
Both companies said they are now working together to ensure uninterrupted service for carriers and brokers that depend on the two platforms.
According to the joint statement, carriers and brokers are not required to take any action.
The companies presented the agreement as being centered on carrier authorization and control. Highway and Motive said they share a commitment to ensuring motor carriers have transparency and control over how their data is authorized and used.
At the same time, the companies confirmed that discussions are continuing to update their existing agreement so that it more clearly reflects current use cases.
They also said they intend to expand their relationship by exploring ways to improve data fidelity, reduce latency and deliver a better experience for both carriers and brokers.
“Motive and Highway both play important roles in the freight ecosystem, and we are committed to serving customers together,” said Jordan Graft, CEO of Highway. “We have a clear path forward that protects carrier choice and allows us to continue improving the experience for brokers and carriers.”
Shoaib Makani, co-founder and CEO of Motive, said the company was pleased to have reached an agreement that supports customers while providing greater clarity around the use of carrier data.
“Our carriers depend on an ecosystem of partners to run their businesses,” Makani said. “We are pleased to have reached a path forward with Highway that supports our customers and provides clarity around data use.”
The Agreement Restores Data Access, but Leaves Key Questions Unanswered
While the announcement restores the data flow between the two companies, it does not settle the commercial dispute that led to the disruption.
Earlier in the week, Highway informed its brokerage customers that Motive had requested compensation for access to carrier data. Highway said it does not charge carriers and did not intend to begin doing so simply to preserve the existing connection.
However, the joint statement makes no mention of compensation, licensing fees or any other financial arrangement between the two companies.
Neither Highway nor Motive has disclosed whether money will change hands, which company could pay the other, or what terms would govern such an arrangement.
The companies have also made clear that their underlying contract has not yet been rewritten.
Instead, they remain in discussions about updating their existing agreement. As a result, the technical connection has returned to normal while the commercial terms governing it remain unresolved.
What has been announced is therefore a restoration of service rather than a full settlement of the dispute.
Neither company has disclosed how long the disruption lasted, how many carriers were affected or how many brokers experienced reduced visibility during that period.
Motive serves customers in trucking, construction, oil and gas, agriculture and several other sectors. The company does not publicly break down how many motor carriers have equipment connected to Highway.
Performance Guarantee Coverage Remains Unclear
Another important element of the disruption was not addressed in the joint announcement.
When Highway initially informed customers about the integration limits, the company said it could no longer provide location-based Load Lock Alerts for loads hauled by carriers using Motive devices.
Highway also said it could no longer support freight moved by those carriers under its Performance Guarantee.
The Performance Guarantee is a commercial backstop through which Highway assumes financial responsibility for outcomes involving loads moved by carriers it has verified. Removing that coverage effectively shifted the associated risk back to the broker.
The new joint statement addresses the restoration of data refresh frequency, but it does not confirm whether Performance Guarantee coverage has also been reinstated for loads moved by Motive carriers.
Neither company has separately confirmed that such coverage has returned.
Whether the restoration of data access automatically places those loads back under covered status remains a question for Highway. It is also an issue that brokerage risk teams are likely to want clarified before changing their carrier selection practices.
How the Dispute Began
Earlier this week, Highway told brokerage compliance leaders that Motive had introduced new restrictions on the existing integration between the two platforms.
According to Highway, the new limits took effect immediately and included restrictions on API access, while Motive indicated that Highway would need to pay for access to carrier data.
The practical consequence, Highway said, was that Motive ELD data refreshed less frequently within the Highway platform, reducing the level of visibility brokers had into affected trucks.
During the disruption, Highway offered an alternative tracking option for Load Lock Plus customers through its carrier-facing mobile application.
However, the company acknowledged that application-based tracking is separate from the physical equipment itself.
Highway also said it would work with the more than 275 other ELD providers integrated with its platform to offer discounted alternatives to carriers considering a change.
That move effectively directed affected carriers toward alternatives offered by Motive’s competitors.
Highway did not comment publicly during the disruption, while Motive issued no public statement until the release of the joint announcement.
The speed of the resolution is particularly notable, as the dispute became public and was resolved within the same week.
What Still Remains Open
Despite the restoration of the connection, several major questions remain unanswered.
The first concerns compensation: whether either company will ultimately pay the other for access to carrier data and, if so, under what commercial terms.
The second concerns Highway’s Performance Guarantee and whether coverage has been restored for freight moved by carriers using Motive devices.
The third concerns the agreement currently being negotiated and whether it could establish a pricing model for ELD data access that other integrations across the freight industry could eventually follow.
This final issue could have implications beyond Highway and Motive.
Carrier vetting platforms rely on data connections with dozens of ELD providers. Many of the commercial arrangements behind those integrations were established years ago, when both the ELD and carrier verification sectors were considerably smaller and when data verification had not yet become such a critical component of freight operations.
Why the Dispute Matters
The disruption demonstrated how quickly a commercial disagreement between technology vendors can affect the broader freight ecosystem.
A data connection relied upon by brokers to verify capacity was interrupted and restored within the space of a single week, without requiring carriers or brokers to take any action.
At the same time, the episode highlighted how little visibility the companies and professionals relying on these systems may have into disputes taking place between the technology providers behind them.
While the technical connection has now been restored, the agreement governing that connection is still being negotiated.
As a result, the commercial conditions that triggered the disruption have not yet been fully resolved.
