Story at a glance
- Autonomous semi-trucks will deliver freight between Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
- A human backup driver will be behind the wheel for safety.
- The goal is to demonstrate how Waymo’s driverless technology can be successfully integrated into the business of hauling freight for a global logistics provider.
Alphabet’s self-driving car venture is teaming up with truck fleet operator C. H. Robinson to test its commercial autonomous trucking technology in Texas in the coming months.
As part of the new partnership, the two companies will launch several pilot programs over the next few years that will include Waymo’s test fleet of autonomous semi-trucks — with a human backup driver behind the wheel for safety — delivering freight between Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston for one of C.H. Robinson’s customers.
The goal is to demonstrate how Waymo’s driverless technology can be successfully integrated into the business of hauling freight for a global logistics provider like C.H. Robinson, which has a network of nearly 200,000 shippers and carriers and data on more than 3 million trucking routes.
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Waymo said the fleet operator’s vast network gives it “data at scale to help us continue to apply our technology in the most effective and valuable ways for the specific needs of the logistics industry.”
“We look forward to this collaboration with C.H. Robinson, both for their deep roots and experience in logistics and transportation, but also as a company that shares our vision of how technology and autonomous trucking can change our industry for the better,” Charlie Jatt, head of commercialization for Waymo Via, said in a statement.
Waymo is made up of two ventures, including Waymo One, which is a consumer ride-sharing service and Waymo Via, which is focused on delivery and freight services.
Waymo has kicked off pilot programs in several parts of the country, including a partnership with UPS in Texas that initially started with local deliveries using autonomous minivans, and was expanded in November to include freight hauling at longer distances.
Waymo says the autonomous technology could help avoid or mitigate fatal traffic accidents and make long-haul trucking more efficient.
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