Freight Tech Startup Zuum Files for Bankruptcy Amid Industry Turmoil

In a troubling development for the freight tech industry, the startup Zuum has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to the bankruptcy petition filed on November 10, 2025, the company based in Irvine, California, listed assets and liabilities between $10-50 million.

The bankruptcy has left a trail of unpaid bills, with Zuum's top 20 unsecured creditors consisting primarily of brokers. The largest claim is from Metropolitan Logistics of Shelby, Michigan, owed over $303,000, while the smallest among the top 20 is Ra Logistics of Sterling Heights, Michigan, owed $139,650.

Zuum, which has been operating since 2021, offered a range of services including a transportation management system (TMS) for shippers and carriers, software for brokers, and a driver app. The company had raised $12.58 million in October 2021 and $22 million in February 2022, according to its website. However, the startup's ambitious vision to "optimize logistics and streamline supply chains globally" has now come crashing down.

The Zuum bankruptcy is the latest in a growing list of freight-related companies that have filed for protection in recent weeks, including small carriers with just a few power units. This trend underscores the challenges facing the transportation industry as it navigates economic headwinds and industry-wide disruptions.