Ted Chen's LifeSaver Mobile Is All About Safer Fleets
Instacart ups SNAP education, Target misses on Q3, funky DoorDash orders
Today we’ve got an exclusive interview with Ted Chen, Founder and CEO of LifeSaver Mobile. Safety is a key concern for any fleet operator, and LifeSaver’s mobile solution aims to cut down on the distracted driving issues that plague America’s roads. Read on to get Ted’s take on how the technology works, and other improvements deliverers can make. Today we’ve also got some new SNAP news from Instacart, a weak earnings report from Target and data on some eye-catching DoorDash trends.
This week’s edition is brought to you by Curbivore 2025.
Today:
Instacart Rolls Out New SNAP/EBT Tools
No Bullseye - Target Misses on Q3
Chart Time | DoorDash’s Dottiest Data
LifeSaver Mobile Aims to Improve Fleet Safety
EBT | Instacart Launches SNAP Education & Enrollment Tool
Instacart just announced a new Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) eligibility screening tool. Powered by Advocatia Solutions, Inc., this lets people nationwide quickly and anonymously check whether they may be eligible for SNAP benefits in under 60 seconds and then find relevant state resources to streamline enrollment. Instacart is the first 3PD or online grocery platform to offer a tool of this nature.
The Big Picture: Anonymizing the SNAP enrollment process helps reduce some of the shame or stigma certain Americans might feel for needing benefits (gosh darn puritanical work ethic…) It’s also damn good business, with recent data showing that SNAP households spend 32% more per buyer than their non-SNAP equivalents, and that SNAP shoppers make 22% more trips than non-SNAPpers. Hopefully those benefits last, as the incoming Trump administration are already eying cuts to the popular program, which benefits 41 million+ Americans.
EVENTS | Delivery & Mobility Comes Together at Curbivore 2025
Industry Dive just called Curbivore one of the “9 industry trade shows to attend in 2025.” Returning to the Downtown LA Arts District this April 10th and 11th, Curbivore brings together the world’s foremost fleet operators, restaurateurs, regulators, retailers, startups, technologists and policy makers to discuss the intersection of transportation systems, small business, urban design and commerce.
Score your Super Early Bird Tickets now and save.
FINANCE | Target Stock Tumbles 22% on Weak Outlook
Target’s stock took a beating — down 22% at one point — after the mega-retailer released a weak Q3, and downgraded its Q4 guidance just three months after having previously upped it. Overall sales grew just 0.9% to $25.228 billion, with same store sales shrinking 1.9% and profit taking a hit as well. EPS was a whopping 20% sort of Wall Street’s expectations.
The Big Picture: The one bright spot for Target? Digital! Digital comparable sales rose 10.8%, with digitally originated sales now accounting for 18.5% of total sales up, from 16.8% a year prior. Sales fulfilled by stores — which includes in-store purchases, as well as online sales shipped from stores, order pickup, drive up and Shipt, sits at 97.7% of overall fulfillment. Target’s woes may be good news for holiday shoppers, as the retailer is lowering prices on 10,000 items to win back foot traffic.
CHART TIME | Trending DoorDash Purchases
With the year wrapping up, DoorDash has charted some of its interesting sales trends in 2024, noting the rise of items like flowers, rice vinegar and… solar eclipse glasses. And nothing drives sales like broad cultural phenomena: the first day of football season spiked orders for chicken wings (9,000%), buffalo sauce (345%), bean dip (737%), Worcestershire sauce (524%), blue cheese dressing (342%), and baby carrots (7,000%.)
INTERVIEW | Ted Chen’s All About Fleet Safety
Modern Delivery: We always like to start short and sweet… can you give us the elevator pitch for LifeSaver?
Ted Chen: LifeSaver Mobile is a unique, software-only platform designed to revolutionize fleet driver safety by eliminating mobile device distraction behind the wheel. Unlike traditional fleet intelligence systems, which rely on hardware, Lifesaver leverages drivers’ existing smartphones or tablets. This innovative approach not only provides instant auto claims reduction but also a new level of insight into driver behavior, delivering critical fleet intelligence without the need for additional hardware.
What motivated you to start the company, and how has the product evolved in the decade plus you’ve been in operation?
My drive to launch this company came from my background and interest in technology advancements. Having spent my career establishing strategic partnerships that empower companies to expand their distribution and reach, I saw an opportunity to build something unique and impactful and create a solution that would not only address challenges in the tech space but would also thrive in smaller environments. Ten years ago, my partner and I developed LifeSaver Mobile to meet pressing fleet safety needs and help end the distracted driving epidemic.
What types of companies make use of LifeSaver, and how do they incorporate it into their businesses?
LifeSaver Mobile is used by a wide range of companies across industries that rely on fleet operations. These companies understand the importance of driver safety and operational efficiency – particularly in today’s insurance landscape and nuclear verdict settlements – and Lifesaver provides them with a unique, software-only solution. Some of the industries that we work with the most include HVAC, pest control, last-mile delivery, pharmaceutical, home health and trucking/logistics.
From a hardware and software point of view, how exactly does LifeSaver work?
From a hardware standpoint, LifeSaver Mobile operates entirely differently from traditional fleet intelligence systems. Instead of requiring hardware installations, LifeSaver leverages the devices that drivers already carry—smartphones or tablets. LifeSaver provides a transparent and easy way to collect and deliver fleet intelligence. This setup allows fleet managers to monitor driver behavior, creating a user-friendly experience and enhancing safety without the complexities associated with hardware-based systems.
What sort of improvements to safety, and to insurance rates, do fleet users tend to see once they’ve implemented LifeSaver?
LifeSaver Mobile significantly reduces the leading cause of fleet crashes—distracted driving—by eliminating the ability to multitask on their mobile device behind the wheel and by promoting safer driving habits and real-time behavior monitoring. As drivers become more aware of their actions, there’s often a measurable decrease in incidents, leading to an overall improvement in fleet safety records. With a strong track record of reducing accidents and fostering safer driving practices, companies that use LifeSaver often become more attractive to insurers. This can lead to better insurability, with many companies seeing lower insurance premiums as a direct result of their improved safety metrics. By reducing risks, LifeSaver not only protects drivers but also contributes to long-term cost savings for companies through enhanced safety and more favorable insurance rates. Unfortunately, the U.S. commercial auto insurance market has been unprofitable for over a decade, which is causing fleet operators to see significant increases in premium each year. Understanding how frustrating this can be for a fleet that is taking all the right safety precautions, we have decided to address this issue by working with insurance providers to offer credits for using LifeSaver Mobile. Stay tuned for more on this.
There’s a growing problem with insurability for gig workers, affecting both workers themselves as well as the platforms they’re working for. But we’ve also seen some of the platforms hesitate to implement stronger monitoring requirements, since they don’t want to be seen as directly controlling their workforce, for worker classification reasons. How do you see that tension playing out, and is there a role for tools like LifeSaver to mediate that issue?
The insurability of gig workers is complicated as organizations try to balance risk management with maintaining independent contractor status. Companies are cautious about appearing to control their workers too much, especially with California's AB5 legislation, which could change their classification from independent contractors (1099) to employees (W-2).
In my view, if a gig company is primarily responsible for the liability that arises from an accident that occurs during the gig, then the company should have the right to take reasonable steps to mitigate the occurrence of these accidents. On the other hand, companies cannot go overboard on driver oversight or the drivers may be classified as employees. I think the key is to find ways to mitigate the risk but only during the gig. Mitigation can include collision avoidance systems and driver behavior monitoring and coaching, so long as these technologies are only in effect during the gig. When platforms take on liability for workers, monitoring and enforcing safety makes sense. But if it feels too intrusive, it could blur the line between gig work and full-time employment.
LifeSaver Mobile provides companies with the most critical type of collision avoidance, by helping drivers keep their eyes on the road by eliminating the temptation to look at their mobile devices behind the wheel. Once the gig is over, monitoring stops, maintaining the flexibility of gig work. This helps reduce insurance risks and ensures platforms stay compliant with worker classification rules, all while upholding safety.
Having said this, we haven’t had a chance to review the specific facts behind this decision, but note that a recent UK court ruling has leaned towards classifying gig workers as employees.
If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about American driving culture, what would it be?
I would change our addiction to mobile devices. In our culture, there’s a strong pressure to always be responsive, which contributes significantly to mobile distractions while driving. We hear a “beep” or “bing” and feel the need to immediately respond.
Another area for improvement is speeding. We often do not want to be told what to do. However, other countries have made significant strides in regulating speed, such as adopting Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems, while the U.S. is still in the early stages of exploring these kinds of initiatives.
A Few Good Links
McDonald’s launching new value menu, including app-only promos. Despite raising billions, Zomato’s CEO seeks unpaid Chief of Staff that will be required to donate their non-salary to charity. How retrograde — American Trucking Association urges OEMs to ditch CARB-helmed Clean Truck Partnership, and instead embrace Trumpism and climate change. 3PLs up leasing. Got a tip, feedback, or just want to say hi? Reply back to this email. Canada’s grocer Metro sees online sales double. IRS finalizes direct pay for clean energy tax credits. Battery mega-startup Northvolt files for reorganization. Paytronix adds online ordering functions.
— Brought to you by the Curbivore Crew.