J.B. Hunt Partners with Waymo for Self-Driving Freight

Waymo Via and J.B. Hunt Expand Autonomous Trucking Alliance

Waymo Via, the division of the autonomous vehicle company focused on trucking and cargo solutions, is transitioning its collaboration with logistics leader J.B. Hunt Transport Services from an initial trial phase to a sustained, strategic partnership.

First Launch Customer for Driverless Freight

Under the terms of this expanded agreement, J.B. Hunt will be the inaugural customer to utilize Waymo Via’s fully autonomous, driverless freight services. Waymo anticipates the deployment of these services within the coming years.

Successful Pilot Program on I-45

The partnership commenced with a pilot program in 2021 along the I-45 corridor connecting Houston and Fort Worth, Texas – a major transportation artery. Waymo’s fleet of Peterbilt trucks, utilizing the Waymo Driver autonomous platform, successfully transported 862,179 pounds of freight.

Throughout the pilot, the operation maintained a flawless safety record, with zero crashes or instances of speeding. Furthermore, all pickups and deliveries were completed punctually, and freight integrity was consistently preserved. Each journey was overseen by a licensed commercial driver and a software technician.

J.B. Hunt's Perspective

“The pilot program last year provided us with valuable, firsthand experience regarding the implementation of autonomous driving technology within our logistical framework,” stated Craig Harper, chief sustainability officer and executive vice president at J.B. Hunt. “This strategic alliance will build upon that foundation and allow for a more detailed exploration of how to deliver a beneficial solution to our customers.”

In the years ahead, the companies plan to initiate additional pilot programs along the same Texas corridor, preparing for fully driverless operations.

Future Plans and the Driver-as-a-Service Model

Waymo has not disclosed specific objectives for the upcoming pilot phases with J.B. Hunt, beyond refining its “driver-as-a-service” model. This model involves collaboration with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as Daimler, to produce autonomous trucks equipped with the Waymo Driver.

These trucks will be directly acquired by fleets and carriers, including J.B. Hunt, and maintained through service partners like Ryder.

Scaling Towards Full Autonomy

“That represents our long-term objective,” explained Julianne McGoldrick, a Waymo spokesperson, to TechCrunch. “As we progress towards that vision, our current test fleet and the pilots we conduct with our autonomous specialists are crucial for gaining operational experience. This ensures we have a solid foundation for hauling freight without a human driver for J.B. Hunt and similar clients.”

Joint Studies and Technology Integration

The collaboration between Waymo and J.B. Hunt will also encompass joint operational and market research. This will facilitate a deeper understanding of their combined progress with self-driving trucks and explore potential integration with J.B. Hunt 360, the company’s digital freight matching platform.

Competitive Landscape

Waymo is not alone in the development of autonomous trucking technology in Texas and beyond. Competitors like TuSimple have already completed initial driverless runs, marking a significant milestone. Aurora and Kodiak Robotics are also actively testing and transporting freight within the state.

A Partnership-Focused Strategy

However, Waymo remains confident in its approach. McGoldrick emphasized that Waymo’s strategy, backed by Alphabet, prioritizes strong partnerships over simply achieving autonomous milestones.

“We’ve observed that many industry partnerships have centered around isolated trial runs lacking substantial depth,” she noted. “We are entering a multi-year agreement with comprehensive components, demonstrating a deep commitment to our partners. We are collaboratively designing our fully autonomous launch to ensure its success when we are prepared.”

Correction: An earlier iteration of this article incorrectly stated that Waymo’s initial pilot with J.B. Hunt utilized Daimler trucks. The pilot program featured Peterbilt test trucks equipped with the Waymo Driver.