SAN FRANCISCO — Uber Freight and autonomous trucking company Waymo Via have announced a partnership that will allow Uber to deploy autonomous Class 8 trucks at scale on its freight network.
According to a news release from Uber, the partnership “brings together the power of Waymo’s autonomous driving technology with the scale of Uber Freight’s network and leading marketplace technology, unlocking a roadmap for the thoughtful and safe implementation of autonomous trucks on America’s roads.”
The release continued: “This agreement is an important milestone that includes a deep product integration and long-term collaboration roadmap that involves building the tools and infrastructure specific to the successful deployment of autonomous trucks for Uber Freight’s shipper and carrier customers. Carriers that purchase trucks equipped with the Waymo Driver in the future will be able to opt-in to Uber Freight’s marketplace through user-friendly applications that enable them to seamlessly deploy their autonomous assets on the Uber Freight network.”
Uber says Waymo’s applications “will provide a streamlined experience for onboarding, load booking and execution, trailer transfers and payment while also enabling an ecosystem where human drivers and autonomous trucks can collaborate effortlessly in a hybrid network to move freight.”
As part of the long-term agreement, Waymo Via officials say they will reserve billions of miles of their goods-only capacity for the Uber Freight network.
“For shippers, the scale and depth of this partnership means that Uber Freight, alongside Transplace, will be able to integrate autonomy seamlessly into shipper networks and advise on how best to adjust their supply-chain strategies for a hybrid network future — where autonomously-driven trucks and human-driven trucks operate side by side to move freight more efficiently and safely,” according to the news release.
“Uber Freight’s extensive, efficient and reliable digital network is essential to making autonomous trucks a reality,” Lior Ron, head of Uber Freight, siad. “We are uniquely positioned to be the preferred network for autonomous trucks, with the scale and the marketplace expertise to deploy autonomous trucks in a way that benefits the entire industry. This partnership is an exciting leap forward and we are proud to work alongside the amazing team at Waymo Via to pioneer a hybrid freight network that truly empowers carriers and will ring in a new era of logistics.”
Charlie Jatt, head of commercialization for trucking at Waymo Via, said: “Uber Freight’s network of shippers, carriers, and marketplace technology is a great match for the Waymo driver. Through this partnership, we can empower carriers to fully utilize their investments in the Waymo Via solution through Uber Freight, and create a great experience for shippers, while keeping our focus on developing the core Driver technology. We’re really excited to see how this partnership can impact the logistics industry and solve critical challenges over the next decade and beyond.”
“Partnering with Uber Freight opens up really interesting opportunities for us to help scale the Waymo Driver,” Boris Sofman, head of engineering for trucking at Waymo Via, said. “By combining the Waymo Via solution with the Uber Freight platform, we’ll be able to apply proven marketplace technology to help carriers dynamically deploy the Waymo Driver where it’s most valuable and most capable. We can’t wait to see what else comes from this deep collaboration.”
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
