Uber opens Uber Freight HQ in Chicago, plans to hire thousands in region
Uber plans to hire thousands of Chicago employees to power Freight’s global growth and innovation
CHICAGO, September 9, 2019 – Uber today announced the opening of its new office in Chicago, Illinois, with plans to invest over $200 million annually in the region through headcount, real estate investment, and other expenses. The new office will serve as Uber Freight HQ and Freight’s first engineering hub outside of San Francisco. Uber plans to hire 2,000 new employees in the region over the next three years, most of which will be dedicated to Freight. The new office will be located in The Old Main Post Office in the historic Chicago River area, for which the company has signed a 10-year lease.
SCALING UBER FREIGHT TEAM TO SUPPORT GLOBAL GROWTH AND INNOVATION
Uber Freight is one of the fastest-growing logistics companies in U.S. history. Over the last 27 months, Uber Freight has scaled across the U.S. and into Europe and, today, counts over 400,000 drivers in its carrier network and 1,000+ shippers as customers, including AB Inbev, Niagara Bottling, Land O’Lakes, and many more Fortune 500 companies.
“Trucking represents an enormous opportunity for Uber, and this milestone is a testament to our long-term commitment to our Freight business,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, Chief Executive Officer of Uber. “Chicago is the heart of America’s transportation and logistics industry, and there is no better place to open our dedicated Freight HQ. Uber has long recognized the incredible history, innovation, and talent that Chicago has to offer, and we’re excited about the thousands of new jobs our Freight business will help bring as we become one of the city’s largest technology employers.”
On the heels of its recent European expansion, Uber Freight is dedicated to growing its talented team to continue serving the carriers and shippers that keep our world moving. Uber Freight HQ will be focused on engineering operations, sales, and account management.
“Since the beginning, the team at Uber Freight has been made up of the best and brightest minds in technology and logistics, with major talent hubs in San Francisco and Chicago,” said Lior Ron, Head of Uber Freight.“We are thrilled to deepen our investment in Chicago, which is known for its logistics expertise. We are excited to bring on board thousands of team members to help build the future of logistics together with our growing list of customers and to support the massive growth trajectory we see for Uber Freight in this industry.”
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AND JOB GROWTH IN CHICAGO
Chicago has long been a major international transportation hub and, in recent years, has established itself as a hotspot for global innovation and tech talent. The region’s world-class universities, research centers, and history of building America’s transportation systems have resulted in an exceptional talent pool today.