Three startup firms are preparing to introduce driverless trucks on Texas highways. These trucks will not have any humans on board, and the companies behind this innovation expect to remove the safety drivers from the trucks after years of testing. The trucks will be guided by software and a variety of sensors, including cameras, radar, and lidar. The firms, including Aurora Innovation Inc, Kodiak Robotics Inc, and Gatik AI Inc, have already hauled cargo for major companies such as Walmart, Kroger, FedEx, and Tyson Foods.
Chris Urmson, the CEO of Aurora, stated that they anticipate beginning to operate trucks without drivers at the end of the year. All three companies are confident in their readiness to deploy the technology, emphasizing that the potential benefits include improved highway safety and lower transportation costs.
However, critics are concerned that financial pressures, rather than safety, are driving the timetable for these driverless trucks. They argue that the companies are seeking to reduce losses that investors have been financing during the development and testing phase. Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, has expressed concerns about the lack of regulation, transparency, and comprehensive data collection.
Opponents, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, have raised alarms about the severe dangers posed by these driverless trucks, which will be traveling at highway speeds and weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. California suspended operations of driverless vehicles in October after incidents in San Francisco, prompting the three companies to turn to Texas for testing and deployment.
The companies argue that driverless trucks face fewer challenges compared to robotaxis, as they largely move cargo on fixed routes and mostly on highways, requiring less interaction with passenger vehicles and pedestrians. In addition to potential cost savings, the trucks can travel longer distances than human drivers and are expected to reduce emissions.
The companies also note that human drivers do not guarantee safe operations, citing statistics showing a significant number of fatal crashes involving large trucks. The federal government has left regulation of driverless large trucks mostly up to states, leading to a patchwork of rules and creating uncertainty in the industry. The companies hope that successful initial runs of driverless trucks will pave the way for broader acceptance of this technology.
Aurora and Gatik plan to deploy driverless trucks in the Dallas area in 2024, while Kodiak plans to start small and gradually ramp up operations. These companies have also partnered with truckport partners to assist with refueling and roadside assistance for their fleets.
Currently, it is mainly southern states, ranging from Arizona to Florida, that allow self-driving trucks. Texas was an early adopter of legislation allowing driverless trucks and has worked with the startups to address issues such as inspections and law enforcement interaction. The potential success of the driverless runs will be crucial in determining the future of the trucking industry’s transformation. – Bloomberg
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