Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Tire
    • Airless Tires
    • Non-Tire
    • More News
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Opinion
    • Online Exclusive
    • Special Reports
    • Automotive
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Sustainability
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Best Places to Work
    • War in Ukraine
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • ITEC
    • Women Breaking the Mold
  • PFAS
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • PFAS Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Online Exclusive
June 10, 2021 03:09 PM

Online Exclusive: Waymo, J.B. Hunt partner on self-driving big rigs

Pete Bigelow
Automotive News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Waymo L.L.C.

    Waymo L.L.C.'s autonomous big rigs soon will be hauling goods along one of the busiest freight corridors in the country.

    The Google affiliate has partnered with trucking and logistics firm J.B. Hunt Transportation Services Inc. to carry freight along Interstate 45 between Houston and Fort Worth, Texas.

    The service—which begins with a human safety driver behind the wheel—marks the first step of what both companies envision as a long-term partnership devoted to exploring the technical and operational aspects of running a fleet of self-driving Class 8 trucks.

    Texas has become a hotbed of self-driving truck testing, with a business-friendly regulatory climate and tangle of interstates that are major freight conduits across the southern portion of the U.S. TuSimple and Kodiak Robotics, two autonomous truck competitors, also have extensive operations in the state. Waymo has been conducting test runs on I-45 since last August.

    Executives from Waymo and J.B. Hunt have collaborated on their plans for several months. Now, the initial runs between two distribution hubs for one of J.B. Hunt's customers will augment their planning with real-world feedback. Waymo and J.B. Hunt did not disclose the customer.

    "We've explored topics such as best practices for regular maintenance, what future facility layouts will look like, and which lanes are best suited for autonomous-driving technology," Waymo said in a blog post.

    J.B. Hunt, of Arkansas, is the latest partner for Waymo's Via trucking division. Waymo also has developed a partnership with UPS Inc. that is ongoing in Arizona. And it has an engineering partnership with Daimler Trucks.

    Separately this week, Josh Switkes said he has joined Waymo to add technical leadership to it systems engineering team. Switkes previously had been the longtime CEO and co-founder of Peloton Technology, a Bay Area company founded in 2010 to help pioneer truck platooning.

    "Josh is helping advance our safety and development processes as we scale our fifth-generation driver across our ride-hailing fleet, as well as across our trucks," a Waymo spokesperson said.

    Related Article
    Self-driving trucks won't have big impact on trucker jobs anytime soon
    Goodyear invests in autonomous truck delivery firm TuSimple
    TuSimple launches autonomous freight network
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Bolder gaining momentum with circular carbon black, pyrolysis oils
    2
    Dutch court finds Chemours liable for environmental damage caused by PFAS
    3
    Our View: Casualties not worth the risk in UAW-Detroit 3 fight
    4
    Singer Industrial acquires Minnesota firm TS Products
    5
    Report: Tekni-Plex may be for sale
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Tire
      • Airless Tires
      • Non-Tire
      • More News
        • Automotive
        • Executive Action
        • Government/Legal
        • Sustainability
        • Blogs
          • Products
          • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Opinion
      • Online Exclusive
      • Special Reports
        • Best Places to Work
        • War in Ukraine
        • Rubber Division IEC
        • ITEC
        • Women Breaking the Mold
    • PFAS
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • PFAS Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION