Autonomous

About Autonomous News...

Autonomous technologies now drive significant change in trucking and freight transportation. Transport Topics autonomous coverage provides a comprehensive look at that change. It provides the latest details on deployment concepts such as advanced driver-assist systems, transfer hubs, teleoperations, platooning and off-road automation and latest analysis of the companies who are manufacturing, adopting and investing in these technologies. Readers can follow the impact such deployment has on everything from policy and infrastructure initiatives to highway congestion, fuel consumption, fleet management, driver management and business investment.

Business, Technology, Autonomous

Flexport Wants to Be the Uber of Ocean Freight

Uber Technologies Inc. is changing the way people move around cities; Flexport wants to do the same with cargo in the holds of ocean-going containerships.

Eric Newcomer | Bloomberg News
May 11, 2015

Daily Briefings from Transport Topics

Transport Topics has partnered with Spoken Layer to make one-minute daily briefings available on all your smart devices. Simply say “Alexa, play Transport Topics” or “Okay Google, talk to Transport Topics” to get the day’s biggest trucking headlines.

Perspective, Business, Government, Autonomous

Opinion: Nat-Gas Vehicles and Low Oil Prices

For light- and heavy-duty truck operators evaluating a switch to natural gas from diesel, the recent oil-price collapse represents the most significant “bump in the road” in several years.    

May 11, 2015
Business, Autonomous

Mack Demonstrates AMT for Vocational Vehicles

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Mack Trucks has taken the next step in its integrated powertrain strategy by offering a proprietary automated manual transmission tailored to construction and heavy-haul applications.

May 11, 2015
Business, Safety, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous

Ryder Adds More Than 1,000 Trucks with Automated Transmissions to Rental Fleet

Truck leasing and rental provider Ryder System Inc. said it is upgrading its North American rental fleet with more than 1,000 trucks equipped with automated manual transmissions.

Seth Clevenger | Managing Editor, Features and Multimedia
May 8, 2015
Business, Equipment, Autonomous

Kenworth Offers Eaton UltraShift Plus as Option in Medium-Duty Models

Kenworth Truck Co. is offering Eaton Corp.’s UltraShift Plus Vocational Active Shifting transmission as an option in its T370, T440 and T470 medium-duty models equipped with the Paccar PX-9 engine.

Seth Clevenger | Managing Editor, Features and Multimedia
May 8, 2015
Business, Government, Safety, Logistics, Autonomous

American Fast Freight Buys Caribbean Shipping Services

American Fast Freight Inc., a logistics and trucking operator, announced the acquisition of Caribbean Shipping Services Inc. to expand in the U.S.-Puerto Rico ocean shipping market.

May 8, 2015
Business, Autonomous

USA Truck CEO John Simone Eager to Return From Medical Leave

USA Truck CEO John Simone, who has been on medical leave, said he is looking forward to returning to active involvement in the business.

Seth Clevenger | Managing Editor, Features and Multimedia
May 8, 2015
Business, Autonomous

US Unemployment Falls to Lowest Level Since May 2008

The trucking industry added 1,392 jobs in April as the unemployment rate dropped to 5.4%, the lowest level since May 2008, the Labor Department said May 8.

May 8, 2015
Business, Autonomous

OEM Powertrain Integration Will Reshape Telematics Market, DTNA Official Says

PRINCETON, N.J. — Truck makers’ increasing emphasis on powertrain integration and remote diagnostics will have a heavy influence on the telematics industry in the years ahead, an official at Daimler Trucks North America said.

Seth Clevenger | Managing Editor, Features and Multimedia
May 6, 2015
Business, Safety, Autonomous

Truck/Rail Freight Rises 2% in 1Q, IANA Report Says

The Intermodal Association of North America pegged first-quarter truck/rail shipment growth at 2%, which was achieved despite a drop in international cargo due to West Coast port delays.

May 5, 2015