Autonomous trucking, once regarded as the stuff of science fiction, is gradually moving closer to viability in real-world freight operations after years of investment, development and on-road testing.

Artur Express plans to operate 100 sleeper trucks with Kodiak Robotics’ self-driving truck technology installed in a partnership between the companies, they said.

Autonomous technology developer Waabi raised $200 million that will help carry it through the commercial launch of fully self-driving trucks in 2025, the Toronto-based company said.

Daimler Truck unveiled plans May 8 to begin operating an autonomous, battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia demonstration truck.

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.

The federal government awarded Fort Worth, Texas, $2 million to test weather sensors on autonomous freight truck routes.

Pittsburgh tech companies raised just over $3 billion in funding last year, led by landmark investments in autonomous vehicle startups like Aurora and Stack AV.

The anticipated benefits of autonomous trucking have attracted an influx of entrepreneurs determined to bring highly automated driving technology to the commercial vehicle market.

LAS VEGAS — The pathway toward large-scale commercialization of self-driving trucks became clearer at CES 2024 as tech startups unveiled upgrades to their autonomous driving systems.

Kodiak Robotics introduced what it billed as the world’s first driverless-ready semi-truck designed for scaled deployment at CES in Las Vegas this week.