Waabi Opens Texas Terminal as Hub for Self-Driving Trucks
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Waabi Innovation opened a terminal in Lancaster, Texas, to serve as the center of the company’s operations in the state, which are at the heart of the self-driving truck specialist’s ambitions, it said April 30.
A more than 8-acre site on the outskirts of Dallas, the terminal was purpose-built for autonomous vehicle trucking and includes several acres for trailer parking, a 24,700-square-foot office and maintenance shop, a fueling station, truck weighing scales and a dedicated pre-trip and post-trip inspection area, Waabi said.
“Texas is a critical location for us as it is the home to our first commercial operations and several important shipping corridors. By establishing our presence here, we are committed to creating more opportunities for autonomous trucking in the region,” Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun said.
“We see this facility as a key player in not only Waabi’s future, but the future of autonomous trucking, as we use it to scale our operations to continue pushing the boundaries of this industry,” she added.
Urtasun
Waabi plans to add more staff in the Dallas area in the coming years, the company said.
“The Texas Trucking Association couldn’t be more excited to witness Waabi’s growth right here in Texas. With the addition of this new AV terminal, we will continue to show ourselves as a state committed to innovation in autonomous trucking and safety,” Texas Trucking Association CEO John Esparza said. “This new investment is a testament not only to the opportunities here, but a commitment to the highest safety standards.”
The Lancaster terminal will allow Waabi to establish, practice and refine the required infrastructure, operating processes and customer services needed for commercial driverless operations, it said; the company added that the facility would allow it to team up with more partners.
Waabi’s AV trucking terminal in Lancaster, TX is now open! This exciting new terminal will serve as the center of our on-road operations in TX, enabling us to scale the deployment of our autonomous trucks and create more opportunities in the region. 🚛⚡https://t.co/7766ahddof pic.twitter.com/yc4uZ5M1qY — Waabi (@Waabi_ai) April 30, 2024
Waabi teamed up with Uber Freight in September on autonomous truck runs between Dallas and Houston. That partnership is expected to expand to additional freight lanes in Texas.
Uber Freight ranks No. 13 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies in North America.
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