Fuel Transport appoints Freddy Beltran as Data AI Director

Fuel Transport has appointed Freddy Beltran as Data & AI Director, adding a senior technology role at the North American logistics company.

Beltran will work with Sana Chaarani, Fuel's Vice President of Technology, as the company develops its data and artificial intelligence plans. His remit includes data governance, mapping business processes and technology systems, and identifying where automation, analytics and AI can improve decision-making and efficiency.

The appointment comes as the Montreal-based transport and logistics group continues a broader technology overhaul. It is pursuing a multi-year roadmap to improve how data is governed and accessed across the business while increasing visibility into operations and technology.

The effort is intended to support automation, forecasting and operational decision-making across Fuel's North American activities. The company serves sectors including aerospace, automotive, food and beverage, retail and pharmaceuticals through a mix of asset-based and non-asset-based services.

Beltran joins with experience spanning software engineering, enterprise architecture, data science and AI. He began in full-stack development before moving into solution and enterprise architecture roles at global corporations.

His background also includes work on AI platforms and methods for small and medium-sized businesses. That work focused on helping organisations align business and technology strategy, including a patent-pending method for assessing alignment and risk across corporate, IT, data, AI and ESG plans.

Technology push

Fuel has recently expanded its senior technology leadership as it increases its focus on data and AI. Beltran's appointment follows the recent arrival of Chaarani as Vice President of Technology.

The company's approach centres on building internal structures around data and governance rather than treating AI as a stand-alone project. That reflects a wider trend in logistics, where operators are exploring how digital tools can support planning, forecasting and workflow management without changing core transport operations overnight.

In a statement, Chaarani outlined the rationale for the hire.

"AI is creating a substantial opportunity, but realizing that opportunity requires more than adopting the latest technology," said Sana Chaarani, Vice President of Technology, Fuel Transport. "It requires strong data foundations, a clear understanding of the business and discipline around where and how we invest. Freddy brings a rare combination of expertise that will be invaluable as we build capabilities that create lasting value for Fuel and our customers."

Beltran's remit suggests Fuel is placing as much emphasis on data management as on new AI tools. In practice, that means establishing consistent access to information across the organisation and identifying where systems and processes can be linked more clearly to business priorities.

Before joining Fuel, Beltran created MyStratos.ai, a strategic planning platform designed to turn unstructured business information into planning frameworks and digital transformation strategies. That work drew on research from the McGill-HEC Montréal Executive MBA programme, where he developed a method for integrating ESG strategy into business models.

Operational focus

For transport companies, data projects often begin with questions of visibility, timing and forecasting. Operators manage large flows of shipments, carrier relationships, customer demand and service performance, making data quality and structure central to planning decisions.

Beltran will focus on where data and AI can have practical operational impact. That includes helping teams make decisions with better information and applying technology where it supports day-to-day work.

Beltran described that approach in his first comments after taking the role.

"What stood out to me about Fuel was the commitment from leadership to treat data and AI as real business capabilities, rather than isolated technology projects," said Freddy Beltran, Data & AI Director, Fuel Transport. "Our focus is on building the right foundations, understanding where the opportunities are, and delivering value incrementally. That means using technology where it makes sense to help our teams make better decisions, work more effectively and ultimately create more value for the business and our customers."