Closing the loop: MatchLog’s container reuse revolution

Can you give us an overview of your business?

At MatchLog, we are pioneering the concept of container reuse, which is fundamentally different from traditional container repositioning. Typically, after an import container is destuffed at a factory, it’s sent back empty to a container depot. After 25–30 days, that same depot releases another container for export, often heading to the same industrial cluster where the import container originated.

We saw an opportunity to eliminate this inefficiency. With MatchLog, if an import container is destuffed in Pune today, we immediately offer it to an exporter nearby who needs a container. This allows for direct reuse of containers at the source, drastically reducing idle time and logistics cost. We’ve taken this further by also enabling trailer reuse. Using our MatchLog Integrated Street Turn Yards (MISTYs), truckers can drop off an import container from one shipping line and pick up an export container of another line–thereby reusing both the container and the trailer. This leads to double-side loaded trips, improving transporter economics and reducing empty trips.

Who are your primary customers and stakeholders?

Our platform serves a broad spectrum of the logistics ecosystem: Shipping lines: They benefit from faster container turnaround—cutting it from 34–40 days to 3–4 days–greater visibility, and a reduced carbon footprint.

Transporters/truckers: They gain the most by getting loaded trips on both legs, improving asset utilisation without investing in new vehicles.

3PLs & CHAs: Gain better operational efficiency and faster cycle times.

Port terminals: Benefit from reduced congestion and increased gate productivity as fewer empty containers move in and out.

How do you convince small, fragmented transporters to join your platform?

Our pitch is simple: “Do you want to make more money?” Smaller transporters often don’t have access to large clients or the financial muscle to expand. We help them get return loads, effectively increasing their revenue with minimal effort. While change management is a challenge—since drivers and fleet owners are used to fixed fuel and toll calculations—our model helps them earn more without new investments.

How does the actual operational flow work with shipping lines and transporters?

Shipping Lines give us permission (MatchLog approval) to reuse their containers. They define the operational parameters, including EDI setup and repair guidelines.

Transporters share their daily movement reports–routes, vehicle types, drivers, container numbers, etc. Using our algorithm, we match import and export movements across clusters.

We’re essentially a matchmaker, connecting compatible import and export movements for optimised reuse.

Is the system fully automated or does it involve manual processes too?

The matching engine is fully tech-driven, but data input is hybrid. Many small transporters may not yet use the platform, so we allow them to share information via WhatsApp, which is parsed into our system. Some information is processed manually as needed. The goal is to ensure maximum matches, regardless of the input route.

How is pricing handled? Do you facilitate freight rate negotiations?

We do not intervene in freight pricing or rate negotiations. Transporters deal directly with CHAs, freight forwarders, or BCOs for their charges. MatchLog’s role is limited to enabling matches and charging a matching fee.

What major challenges did you face during implementation, and what lessons have you learned?

The biggest challenge was change management. Initially, even we underestimated how resistant the ecosystem would be. Shipping lines, for example, were comfortable with existing processes, especially post-Covid hen profitability was high.

We had to carefully refine our value proposition for each stakeholder–like asset sweating for liners and revenue improvement for truckers. Convincing transporters to shift from one-sided trip planning to a reuse-based model also required consistent engagement.

What are your current volumes and growth trajectory?

Today, we’re enabling 4,000 to 5,000 container reuses per month, and we expect this number to double within the next 12 months. That’s a strong validation of our platform’s value.

What’s your long-term vision?

Our goal is to become the largest global platform for container reuse. In the near term, we aim to expand into Sri Lanka, Nepal, Middle East, Singapore (where we already have an office). By May 2026, we envision operating across all these geographies while maintaining our leadership in India.