Autonomous trucks

Kodiak Robotics shaves unibrow off its autonomous trucks

The fifth generation of Kodiak Robotics’ autonomous truck design moved more components into mirror-mounted SensorPods, eliminating the “unibrow” of cameras and radars above the windshield that suggests a science project rather than a production truck.

Kodiak is aiming for the same end-of-2024 time frame that competitors TuSimple and Aurora Innovation point to for limited driverless commercial runs of their autonomous trucks, albeit with a more streamlined appearance.

Aurora moved to a cleaner...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/kodiak-robotics-shaves-unibrow-off-its-autonomous-trucks

Kodiak Robotics, Forward Air begin Dallas-Atlanta autonomous runs

Kodiak Robotics and Forward Air Corp. are beginning thrice-weekly autonomous freight round-trip runs between Dallas and Atlanta using teams of safety drivers to comply with hours-of-service regulations that likely won’t apply to driverless trucks.

Mountain View, California-based Kodiak expects to pull the driver on specific routes in 2024. But for now, the biggest cost of moving freight — the driver — is still part of the picture. Kodiak uses four drivers rotating between local and long-haul...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/kodiak-robotics-and-forward-air-begin-dallas-atlanta-autonomous-runs

Warning devices for stopped trucks to go by wayside?

WASHINGTON — Two self-driving truck companies have told regulators their technology for warning motorists of a truck stopped on the side of the highway is safe enough to replace traditional reflective signs and road flares.

Waymo LLC and Aurora Operations Inc. have asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to exempt for five years their highly automated (Level 4 and Level 5) trucks from regulations requiring such roadside warning devices. If FMCSA approves the exemption, the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/warning-devices-for-stopped-trucks-to-go-by-wayside

Broker oversight, truck speed limiters among 2023 policy action items

The Biden administration began 2022 by rolling out its National Roadway Safety Strategy, a U.S. Department of Transportation-wide initiative aimed at addressing rising injuries and deaths involving cars and trucks.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — and Congress — is expected to advance regulatory and legislative policy that either directly or indirectly attempts to tackle the problem.

Truck parking

With Republicans taking control of the House, a divided government will make it more...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/action-on-broker-oversight-truck-speed-limiters-expected-in-2023

’22 proved to be banner year for Kodiak Robotics

A few years ago, the autonomous trucking industry was just gaining its footing, with real-world use mostly limited to small-scale pilots.

Many people assumed it would be a long time before driverless trucks would actually make commercial deliveries on a consistent basis, but this reality is approaching quicker than anticipated.

As evidence, you only need to look at Kodiak Robotics, which is bringing autonomous capabilities to the trucking industry with its fleet powered by the Kodiak Driver...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/22-proved-to-be-banner-year-for-kodiak-robotics

Full speed ahead: Bringing autonomous trucks to the road

The growing severity of the driver shortage, combined with a shrinking number of predictable and set routes and increasing customer demands, is putting the spotlight once again on autonomous trucks. While the technology continues to evolve and show promise, it can sometimes be difficult to separate hype from reality and overpromises from viable ROI. 

At DHL Supply Chain, we see the value autonomous trucks can bring to the supply chain, especially in long-haul logistics operations where they...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/full-speed-ahead-bringing-autonomous-trucks-to-the-road

Embark, DHL Supply Chain tackle autonomous trucking roadblocks through long-standing partnership

The world still hasn’t seen the widespread presence of self-driving trucks on the road, but the transportation industry is diligently working to make this a reality.

While autonomous trucks are already being tested and making deliveries every day along dedicated routes, questions about how autonomous trucks will interact, and exist in, their environments still need to be answered.

For instance, what lanes will be best suited for autonomous trucks? How will on-the-ground operations need to be...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dhl-supply-chain-embark-tackle-autonomous-trucking-roadblocks-through-long-standing-partnership

Einride announces $500M for autonomous, electric vehicle development

FreightTech startup Einride announced Wednesday it had raised $500 million in financing through a combination of a Series C equity raise and a debt facility.

The Sweden-based company raised $200 million in the Series C with the Swedish pension fund AMF, EQT Ventures, Northzone, Polar Structure, Norrsken VC and Temasek, among others participating in the round. In addition, Einride said it secured a $300 million debt facility led by Barclays Europe.

“The time is now to act on not only developing...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/einride-announces-500m-for-autonomous-electric-vehicle-development

Electrification, autonomous startups happy for help

A theme emerges as you look around the electrification and autonomous trucking space. Practically no one does it alone.

Don’t go it alone

“Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends. Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends.” — The Beatles

No man is an island. Neither is a startup pursuing electrification or autonomy. Sometimes it’s a partnership. Sometimes it is licensing or reselling someone else’s enabling product. Just about everybody is doing it.

A recent example comes from...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/electrification-autonomous-startups-happy-for-help-in-what-they-dont-know

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