Craig Fuller Calls Out FourKites CEO for Misleading Project44 Criticism

Craig Fuller, CEO of FreightWaves, is publicly disputing claims made by FourKites CEO Matt Elenjickal that he says distorted his words to unfairly criticize rival logistics tech firm Project44. The dispute marks the latest flashpoint in a long-running and often bitter rivalry between the two supply chain visibility companies.

Misrepresentation of Fuller’s Commentary

In a LinkedIn post, FourKites’ Elenjickal cited comments Fuller made on X regarding Project44’s new Movement platform. The quote “eliminating the need for contracted logistics providers” was presented by Elenjickal as a direct warning against Project44’s intentions.

However, Fuller clarified that the quote reflected his own perspective, not that of Project44 or its CEO, Jett McCandless. “Those were my words alone,” he stated. Fuller said his original commentary was taken out of context and manipulated to paint Project44 as a threat to carriers and brokers.

“I wasn’t suggesting Project44 wants to drive these companies out of business,” Fuller wrote. “The most exciting feature… is the shipment negotiation tool, which enables carriers, brokers, and forwarders to participate in the Project44 execution platform.”

Accusations of Patterned Behavior

Fuller also revived concerns about FourKites' conduct during a previous legal battle. In a 2020 defamation suit, Project44 accused FourKites leadership of sending anonymous emails alleging criminal activity within Project44. A forensic IT investigation reportedly linked the emails to accounts and phone numbers tied to FourKites and its CEO.

The Illinois Supreme Court later ruled that FourKites had sent “a false message in bad faith,” allowing the lawsuit to proceed. Though the case settled out of court, Fuller criticized the decision to keep Elenjickal in place, citing it as evidence of a troubling ethical pattern.

Fuller’s Message on Fair Competition

Fuller’s editorial asserts that industry competition is expected (and even healthy), but must be grounded in ethics and accurate attribution. He warned that distorting quotes and weaponizing misattribution to damage competitors is unacceptable behavior.

“Twisting my words and their context to harm a competitor is unethical and undermines fair competition,” Fuller concluded.

If you would like some background on the battle between p44 and FourKites, you can read about that here:

Freight Tech Trial? Project44 & FourKites Battle Rages On

project44’s defamation lawsuit against FourKites moves forward after a pivotal Illinois Supreme Court ruling.

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Source: FreightWaves