The Full Truck

Introduction to The Full Truck

The Full Truck is a mobile-first software solution designed for independent food route drivers who deliver wholesale products to restaurants, delis, bodegas, and other small retail food establishments. It addresses common operational challenges in direct-store-delivery (DSD) workflows, including manual data entry, fragmented paper-based ordering, inconsistent communication, and missed sales opportunities due to limited product visibility.

The platform enables drivers to digitize physical distributor invoices—regardless of condition—and transform them into interactive, browser-accessible digital catalogs. Customers receive order links via SMS or WhatsApp without needing to install an app, allowing them to review pricing, browse full inventory, and submit orders at any time. The system integrates order management, pricing automation, payment tracking, and route-specific reporting into a unified workflow.

Key Takeaways

• AI-powered invoice scanning that extracts products, categories, and prices from wrinkled or stained paper invoices from distributors such as Sysco, US Foods, Thumann's, and local wholesalers
• Unified catalog creation: merge item lists from multiple distributors into a single, branded digital storefront visible to customers
• Automated SMS and WhatsApp messaging with scheduled weekly order links and one-click manual notifications
• Smart pricing engine supporting configurable markup percentages, per-item price overrides, and optional price hiding
• Integrated payment tracking with real-time balance visibility, partial payment recording, and two-tap payment confirmation
• Dynamic pick list generation that aggregates items across customer orders for efficient truck loading
• Personalized customer experience features including specials targeting, recently ordered items display, and smart favorites prioritization
• No app installation required for customers—order forms render natively in mobile browsers via text-delivered links

How The Full Truck Works

The workflow begins when a driver takes a photo of a paper invoice using the mobile app. The built-in AI processes the image to identify product names, SKUs, categories, unit prices, and availability status, converting it into a structured digital catalog. Drivers can combine catalogs from multiple distributors into a single view labeled "The Full Truck," ensuring customers see all available items—not just those listed on a given week’s invoice.

Next, drivers generate a unique, shareable link for each customer and send it via SMS or WhatsApp on a recurring schedule or manually. Customers open the link in their phone’s browser, view the catalog—including marked specials and previously ordered items—add items to their cart, and submit orders. All submissions are synced in real time to the driver’s dashboard, where they can review, adjust quantities, print consolidated pick lists, record deliveries, and track payments.

The system also supports automated follow-ups, delivery notifications, and weekly reminders. Accounting functions—including outstanding balances, partial payments, and order history—are maintained in a centralized ledger, eliminating paper-based recordkeeping.

Core Benefits and Applications

For independent route drivers, The Full Truck reduces administrative overhead by automating data entry, minimizing order errors, and enabling faster route execution. Drivers report saving five or more hours per week on tasks such as catalog preparation, order transcription, and payment reconciliation. By presenting full inventory—including specialty or seasonal items—drivers increase average order value and reduce missed sales.

For store owners and buyers, the platform provides 24/7 access to accurate, up-to-date pricing and availability, eliminates early-morning phone calls, and streamlines reordering through intuitive browser-based interfaces. Retailers benefit from consistent presentation across suppliers, simplified comparison of offerings, and reduced friction in placing repeat orders.

The solution is particularly suited for wholesale food distribution scenarios where drivers manage heterogeneous supplier catalogs, operate without corporate IT infrastructure, and require offline-capable mobile tools with minimal learning curve.