VIRTUAL HACKATHON · JUNE 15–22, 2026

DRIVER APP SHORTAGE HACKATHON BUILD FOR THE
DRIVER.

One week. Free SONAR API access. Real prizes. And a problem the entire freight industry has ignored for too long.

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Days
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Hours
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Minutes
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FREE Entry Fee
7 Days to Build
100% Your IP
OPEN To Anyone, Anywhere

Love this — truckers virtual hackathon. Calling it the DASH: 'Driver App Shortage Hackathon.' One week to develop something that makes life better for truck drivers. Who's in?

— Craig Fuller @FreightAlley on X · CEO, FreightWaves
The Problem

Most Freight Tech Ignores the Driver

Truck drivers are the engine of freight. But the vast majority of driver-facing technology is built for fleet managers, dispatchers, and brokers — not the people behind the wheel.

The industry talks about driver retention, driver wellness, and driver pay. Few companies are actually putting real builder hours behind solving those problems.

DASH exists to change that. One week. A focused problem. Real tools. And builders who give a damn.

3.5M
Professional truck drivers on U.S. roads — one of the most underserved groups in freight tech
$800B+
Annual U.S. trucking revenue. The labor behind it deserves better software.
7 Days
All it takes to ship a real MVP with the right data access and builder energy.
What We're Doing

A Virtual Hackathon Built Different

FreightWaves is hosting DASH — a one-week virtual hackathon open to developers, designers, and freight builders anywhere in the world. No entry fee. No gatekeeping. Just build.

🛰️
Free SONAR API Access

Every registered participant gets full access to the SONAR freight data API for the duration of the hackathon — the same data used by major shippers, carriers, and brokers.

🌎
Open to Anyone

No entry fee. No geographic limits. Solo or team, developer or designer, freight veteran or complete newcomer — if you want to build, you're in.

⚖️
Real Judging Panel

Freight operators, FreightWaves leadership, and members of the venture community. Your 30-minute finalist demo gets in front of people who can actually do something with your idea.

Run of Show

How This Plays Out

What Winners Get

Real Prizes. Not a Plaque.

🛰️
12 Months of Free SONAR

Winning teams get a full year of free SONAR API access to keep building after the event.

📣
FreightWaves Coverage

Editorial feature, FreightWaves Today segment, podcast appearance, and newsletter spotlight reaching the entire freight industry.

🤝
Customer Intros

Warm introductions to FreightWaves audience members who fit as design partners or first customers for your product.

Your Work Stays Yours. Full Stop.

Every participant retains 100% ownership of everything they build during DASH. Judges and sponsors sign NDAs covering all submissions. You choose what to publicize and what to keep private.

100% IP Ownership
Judges Sign NDAs
Sponsors Sign NDAs
You Control Publicity
Reserve Your Spot

Join Us June 15 for the Kickoff

Register to attend the opening ceremony webinar. You'll receive a Google Meet link and everything you need to hit the ground running on June 15.

  • SONAR API walkthrough — learn what data you have access to and how to use it
  • Official rules & judging criteria — know exactly what the panel is looking for
  • Team formation — find collaborators or register your existing team
  • Q&A with FreightWaves leadership — get your questions answered before build week starts
  • Free to attend — no entry fee, no commitment required
June 15, 2026 · Virtual
Register for the DASH Kickoff
Google Meet link sent upon registration