Waymo

Truck Talk No. 26: Labor pains edition

This week, we look at the ramifications of a vote on a third tentative agreement by striking workers at Volvo Trucks North America  We also revisit patents and make bank with Hyliion Holdings founder and CEO Thomas Healy.

Holding the line

Are two strikes impacting production at Volvo Truck enough to get UAW workers a contract they will accept? The outcome of voting on a third tentative agreement by 2,900 represented hourly workers in Dublin, Virginia, should be known by Friday evening. 

After...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-talk-no-26-labor-pains-edition

Questioning new federal crash data requirements

A group representing makers self-driving cars and trucks wants the Biden administration to reconsider its recent order mandating that manufacturers and operators of automated vehicles promptly report data involving certain crashes that occur while the automation technology is engaged.

The Self-Driving Coalition, whose members include truck technology companies Embark, TuSimple and Waymo — all of which are included in the order issued on June 29 by the National Highway Traffic Safety...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/questioning-new-federal-crash-data-requirements

Truck Talk: Autonomous patent edition

This week, we look at how technology patents suggest possible winners and also-rans in the autonomous trucking race to commercialization. And Cummins cuts a deal that replaces the sunsetting of its 20-year-old natural gas joint venture with Westport Fuel Systems.

A patent argument

Sizing up the prospects of autonomous software trucking companies needs a scorecard, or maybe a Racing Forum. There’s no question that a horse race to commercialization is underway. Distinguishing winners from also-rans...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-talk-autonomous-patent-edition

Truck Talk: Sound off edition

One of the unintended challenges arising from the near-silent operation of electric trucks is that you cannot hear them coming, especially if you are legally blind. This week, we look at how some truck manufacturers are soundly addressing the challenge.  

Out of sight

One of the benefits of electric trucks is a massive reduction in noise pollution. The rumble of a diesel engine, the shifting of gears — sometimes rhythmic, sometimes painful — and the whoosh of air brakes being released left no...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-talk-sound-off-edition

Waymo hauls in $2.5B from current investors for autonomous expansion

Self-driving ride-hailing and autonomous trucking software startup Waymo raised $2.5 billion of new funding from original investors and newcomer Tiger Global.

The subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has grown from the original Google self-driving car program to include autonomous ride hailing in the Phoenix area and autonomous software development for commercial trucks including Daimler Trucks and United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS).

Waymo Via, the autonomous trucking software unit, is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/waymo-hauls-in-25b-from-current-investors-for-autonomous-expansion

Transmission: Can Class 8 truck producers keep up with demand?

There was good news and some questionable news over the weekend. The good news can be summed by the trucking industry deciding it needed more vehicles last month, pushing up sales 108% year-over-year. There was another sale, though, that could generate more questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is investigating former Nikola CEO Trevor Milton. He sold 3.5 million of his Nikola shares for $49 million six months after he resigned in a cloud of controversy.

Read all...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/transmission-can-class-8-truck-producers-keep-up-with-demand

Krafcik steps down as CEO of autonomous driving leader Waymo

Waymo CEO John Krafcik stepped down Friday from leading the recognized autonomous driving leader that operates a ride-hailing robo taxi service near Phoenix and is developing self-driving Class 8 trucks.

The surprise announcement came via a blog post Krafcik wrote on the company’s website. He said it was time to move on to new challenges after five and a half years overseeing explosive growth, making Waymo an independent subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and raising $3.25...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/krafcik-steps-down-as-ceo-of-autonomous-driving-leader-waymo

A virtual ride-along in Waymo Via’s latest Class 8 autonomous truck

Waymo Via took to the freeways outside Phoenix on Wednesday to demonstrate its fifth generation of Level 4 autonomous Class 8 trucking. 

The system is still “years away” from production. And while the drive was real, invited media experienced it virtually.

Lessons from Waymo Via’s Peterbilt-based heavy-duty trucks traveling Interstate 10 and Arizona 202 freeways are shared with Waymo’s more mature autonomous ride-hailing service.  Waymo operates Chrysler Pacifica minivans without drivers in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/a-virtual-ride-along-in-waymo-vias-latest-class-8-autonomous-truck

Truck Talk: Safety sells edition

Welcome back to Truck Talk. Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe here for delivery to your inbox every Friday.

This week, we’re looking at some impressive outcomes from truck safety technology; a couple of dump truck developments (because dump trucks are cool) and the definition of a pre-order.

This stuff really works

Daimler Trucks North America was the first to show off limited hands-free driving in its 2020 model Cascadia flagship. The suite of technologies included active braking, active lane...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-talk-safety-sells-edition

DOT study predicts no mass layoffs from driverless trucks

A U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)-sponsored study on automated driving systems (ADS) concludes that truck drivers should not fear significant job losses due to automation unless driverless technology is adopted on a fast timeline.

Produced by DOT’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, “Macroeconomic Impacts of Automated Driving Systems in Long-Haul Trucking,” released in January, for the first time estimates productivity benefits due to ADS in the trucking...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dot-study-predicts-no-mass-layoffs-from-driverless-trucks

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