Autonomous Trucking Landscape Is Shifting Rapidly
[Find the latest in trucking technology: Explore this quarter's issue of iTECH]
The anticipated safety and economic benefits of autonomous trucking — and the potentially lucrative business prospects associated with this emerging field — have attracted an influx of innovators and entrepreneurs determined to bring highly automated driving technology to the commercial vehicle market.
During the past decade, numerous startups and technology companies have set out to solve this complex technical challenge and ultimately integrate driverless vehicles into freight transportation networks.
Along the way, these developers have been partnering with truck manufacturers and suppliers while collaborating with fleet operators, logistics companies and shippers to pave the way for the commercial rollout of autonomous trucks.
Clevenger
Some of these developers already have come and gone, and new players continue to emerge.
Keeping up to date on this fast-moving field of development is no easy task, which is why iTECH published an overview of the various autonomous truck developers and their differing visions for how this technology will be deployed in the November 2022 cover story, “Who’s Who in Autonomous Trucking?”
Of course, much has changed in the 15 months that followed. Four prominent developers highlighted in that issue are no longer actively developing self-driving trucks for the North American market. Newcomer Stack AV has joined the industry. Existing developers have announced additional fleet pilots and supplier agreements. Potential timelines for commercialization also have come into clearer focus.
►Who's Still In Autonomous Trucking?
►Clevenger: Autonomous Trucking: A Rapidly Shifting Landscape
►Company snapshots: Aurora | Kodiak | Torc | Waabi | Stack AV | Gatik | Plus | Einride | Forterra | Outrider
►From November 2022: Who's Who in Self-Driving Truck Development
Considering how much the autonomous trucking landscape has shifted, iTECH is taking a fresh look at the developers that remain active and their progress toward commercialization at scale.
This issue’s cover story offers key information on 10 self-driving truck companies along with an update on the state of autonomous truck development.
Although a great deal of work remains before fully autonomous trucks will be ready to haul a substantial portion of the freight in North America, that vision may become a reality in the not-so-distant future.
Even with the departure of several major developers, the progress demonstrated by other companies in this space, their partnerships with established truck makers and their work on pilot projects with potential fleet customers all suggest that autonomous trucks will indeed become a significant part of the freight transportation industry in the years ahead.
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