Motive, Highway End ELD Data Dispute

Motive and Highway have reached an agreement to restore the frequency of electronic logging device data access, ending a disruption that began earlier this week. The companies announced the resolution in a joint statement reported by FreightWaves, stating no action is required from carriers or brokers.

Both firms framed the resolution around carrier authorization. They said they share a commitment to giving motor carriers transparency and control over how their data is authorized and used. Discussions are ongoing to update their existing agreement to more clearly reflect current use cases.

“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. Shoaib Makani, co-founder and CEO of Motive, said they are pleased to have reached a path forward that supports customers and provides clarity around data use.

What Remains Unresolved

The announcement restores the data flow but does not resolve the question that stopped it. Highway’s earlier notice stated Motive had asked to be compensated for access to carrier data. The joint statement makes no reference to compensation, licensing fees, or any payment between the two companies.

The statement is explicit that the underlying contract has not been rewritten. The companies describe themselves as in discussions to update their existing agreement. What has been announced is a restoration of service, not a settlement.

The Performance Guarantee Question

One element is unaddressed. When Highway notified its customers of the limits, it said it could no longer back freight moved by Motive carriers under its Performance Guarantee. This commercial backstop sees Highway assume financial responsibility for outcomes on loads moved by carriers it has verified.

The joint statement addresses data refresh frequency. It does not state that Performance Guarantee coverage has been reinstated for Motive carriers. Whether restored data access automatically returns those loads to covered status is a question for Highway.

How the Dispute Started

Highway told brokerage compliance leaders this week that Motive had imposed new limits on the existing integration, effective immediately. Motive had begun restricting API access while indicating Highway would need to pay for carrier data. The practical effect was that Motive ELD data refreshed less frequently inside Highway's platform, reducing broker visibility.

During the disruption, Highway offered an alternate tracking path for Load Lock Plus customers through its carrier-facing mobile app. The company also said it would work with the more than 275 other ELD providers it integrates with to offer discounted alternatives to carriers considering a change.

Highway didn’t comment during the disruption. Motive made no public statement until the joint release. The speed of the resolution is notable, with the dispute becoming public and resolved inside the same week.

Three questions survive the announcement. Whether either company will pay the other, and on what terms. Whether Performance Guarantee coverage has been restored. And whether the updated agreement will establish a pricing framework for ELD data access that other integrations across the industry might follow.