DHL Supply Chain has started using self-driving semi-trucks to haul freight across Texas highways, starting with routes from Dallas to Houston, and Fort Worth to El Paso.
The company will use Volvo’s VNL Autonomous vehicles, each of which will have a human safety driver present in the cab of the truck to monitor performance. The trucks — which started transporting freight for DHL Supply Chain on December 4 — come equipped with hardware and software from autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora, and include redundancy systems that automatically take control of the vehicle if the primary systems fail. Aurora has previously worked with PACCAR to design self-driving vehicles for the truck manufacturer’s Kenworth and Peterbilt brands.
In a joint-release with Volvo, DHL Supply Chain president of transportation Jim Monkmeyer outlined the company’s goal to have the autonomous trucks “reduce the physical and mental strain on drivers,” and offer new opportunities for workers, including remote vehicle monitoring and fleet management. Volvo Autonomous Solutions head of on-road solutions Sasko Cuklev also highlighted opportunities to increase freight capacity, given the ability of the vehicles to operate 24/7.
