KNOXVILLE, Tenn. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Pilot Company and Kodiak Robotics, Inc. are collaborating to develop autonomous truck services at Pilot and Flying J travel centers.
Pilot Company and Kodiak are in the process of creating an autonomous truck port in the Atlanta area to evaluate potential service offerings and explore scalable solutions, according to a joint new release from the two companies.
These services will include spaces to pick-up and drop-off autonomous trucking loads; conduct inspections; maintain and refuel trucks and the ability to transfer data for processing, such as feature development and mapping.
“Pilot Company is committed to providing best in class service to its customers today and going forward,” John Tully, vice president of strategy and business development at Pilot Company, said. “In making this strategic investment, we understand that our customers have a need for real solutions that help address the growing demand to move goods and Kodiak is a strong leader in the autonomous trucking space. As we explore the future of autonomous trucks and how we can best support these customers, we will continue to be the travel center network that the trucking industry and professional drivers can count on for the services and care they need.”
Kodiak officials said that combining Pilot Company’s nationwide network of travel centers and services with Kodiak’s technology “will play a crucial role in the deployment of autonomous trucks.”
“Pilot Company’s industry-leading network of highway-adjacent travel centers provides unprecedented geographic reach for the launch and scale of Kodiak’s fast-growing network of autonomous trucking lanes,” Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotics, said. “Their customer first approach, with a focus on technology, scale, and infrastructure, makes Pilot Company an ideal partner to support the service and maintenance of self-driving trucks nationwide. We are honored to have Pilot Company as an investor, strategic partner, and supporter of our continued commercial footprint growth.”
Kodiak entered a growth phase in 2022, expanding its service and partner network.
In July, the company announced a partnership with 10 Roads Express, a provider of time sensitive surface transportation for the U.S. Postal Service, expanding the company’s service to Florida.
Earlier this year, Kodiak announced a new route between Dallas and Oklahoma City with CEVA Logistics and a route between Dallas and Atlanta with U.S. Xpress. The company has been delivering freight commercially since 2019 and currently has six routes that run regularly between Dallas and Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Jacksonville, Florida.
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.
