Autonomous trucking is edging closer to commercial reality in the United States, but the companies leading the technology are finding that the real challenge is no longer just developing a safe self-driving system.
It is building the ecosystem around it: the infrastructure, service network, regulations, operational playbooks and commercial partnerships needed to scale autonomous freight in a predictable, reliable and economically viable way.
Few companies have gained as much real-world experience as Volvo Autonomous Solutions. While much of the industry is still testing prototypes or running closed pilots, Volvo is already hauling commercial freight between Dallas and Houston using the Volvo VNL Autonomous integrated with the Aurora Driver. (VNL is the name of Volvo Trucks’ long-haul, Class 8 tractor platform for the North American market.) [Read more…] about Interview with Volvo autonomous trucks executive: ‘We are already in commercial deployment’