Waymo Via & UPS Expand Autonomous Freight Partnership | Class 8 Trucks

Waymo Via Expands Autonomous Trucking Partnership with UPS

Waymo Via, the delivery-focused division of Alphabet’s self-driving technology company, is broadening its collaboration with UPS to incorporate autonomous Class 8 trucks for freight transport. This initiative represents a significant step in the commercial application of self-driving technology within the logistics sector.

Pilot Program Details

A six-week pilot program commenced last week and is scheduled to continue through the end of the year, coinciding with the peak holiday shipping season. The operations are concentrated in Texas, specifically between the cities of Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth.

While the precise number of trucks involved hasn't been disclosed, Waymo confirms that “multiple trucks” from its testing fleet – Peterbilt vehicles equipped with its fifth-generation Driver system – will be utilized to deliver goods for UPS’s North American Air Freight (NAAF) unit.

Operational Safety and Oversight

Each truck will be staffed with two autonomous specialists during operation. These include a driver possessing a commercial driver’s license and a software technician. Their role is to closely monitor the Driver system while the truck is operating in autonomous mode.

It’s important to note that autonomous driving will be limited to highway stretches. For travel on local roads, the trucks will transition to manual operation, as confirmed by a Waymo spokesperson to TechCrunch.

Building on Previous Collaboration

This expansion follows an earlier pilot program initiated in January 2020. This initial phase involved utilizing Waymo’s autonomous Chrysler Pacifica minivans to deliver smaller parcels for UPS in Phoenix, Arizona.

The objective of the initial pilot was to formulate a long-term strategy for collaborative efforts between the two companies. This current extension of the partnership demonstrates a commitment to realizing that vision.

Learnings and Future Implications

According to a Waymo spokesperson, the first UPS pilot program yielded valuable insights into aspects such as vehicle hailing and parcel loading/unloading procedures. The current trucking pilot will leverage these learnings while focusing on a different operational scope.

Successful completion of this trucking pilot could position Waymo as a competitor to companies like TuSimple, which has maintained a partnership with UPS and its NAAF division since 2019.

Competitive Landscape and Expansion

During its Q3 earnings call, TuSimple announced an accelerated expansion of its autonomous freight network, extending from Arizona to the east coast to serve NAAF terminals in Orlando and Charlotte. TuSimple reports having already accumulated 160,000 miles of freight hauling experience for NAAF.

Waymo highlighted that these Class 8 trial runs will build upon the successes and knowledge gained from previous testing with UPS, as well as earlier Class 8 trials with other carriers, including J.B. Hunt.

Recent Developments and Infrastructure

In June, Waymo announced a freight hauling partnership with J.B. Hunt along Interstate 45, a major transportation corridor between Houston and Fort Worth.

Subsequently, the company revealed plans to establish a dedicated trucking hub in Dallas and collaborate with Ryder for fleet management services. This move is intended to facilitate the scaling of autonomous trucking operations across Texas, Arizona, and California.

The Ryder partnership is already underway at a temporary Dallas facility, with the full-scale hub expected to open in the first half of next year, according to Waymo.