Kodiak Transports Refrigerated Freight for Martin-Brower
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Kodiak Robotics’ autonomous semis are carrying loads for logistics group Martin-Brower Co. on routes between Dallas and Oklahoma City, the companies said Feb. 29.
The semis deliver time-critical refrigerated freight for quick-service restaurants eight times per week on one of Kodiak’s key routes.
So far, Mountain View, Calif.-based Kodiak has carried out more than 600 autonomous deliveries for Martin-Brower. The companies began working together in July 2022.
The companies also are looking to expand their operations on the Martin-Brower network.
Burnette
Kodiak is operating what Martin-Brower refers to as a “shuttle lane,” in which autonomous trucks shuttle full trailers between major hubs and local drivers handle distribution of goods to multiple restaurants.
Those customers include two of the five largest fast-food chains in the United States. “Unfortunately, we cannot reveal which customer we’re hauling goods for,” Michael Wiesinger, Kodiak vice president of commercialization, told Transport Topics.
“Your next order of fries may have traveled on a Kodiak truck,” Kodiak CEO Don Burnette hinted. “Autonomous trucks are well-suited to the difficult work of longhaul driving, while allowing our partners’ local drivers to handle last-mile deliveries and provide a personal touch for customers.
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“Martin-Brower’s shuttle lane model is an ideal application for Kodiak that enables us to demonstrate the value of our technology within our customers’ existing networks.”
Kodiak also has partnerships in place with Loadsmith, C.R. England, Tyson Foods, Ikea, Werner Enterprises and Forward Air.
The company plans to introduce its first driverless operations along its Dallas-Houston route later this year. Kodiak’s primary focus in 2024 is the Dallas-Houston and Dallas-Atlanta routes, Burnette told TT.
Martin-Brower ranks No. 8 on the Transport Topics list of top food service carriers.
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