DALLAS and TORONTO — Artificial intelligence self-driving technology company Waabi has signed a multi-year lease on a new flagship autonomous trucking terminal in the Dallas suburb of Lancaster to serve as the center for the company’s Texas operations.
The facility, purpose-built for autonomous trucking, will support the company’s current development operations and continued commercial growth in the southern United States, a news release states.
Waabi established its initial commercial presence in Texas last year, hauling autonomous loads between Dallas and Houston through an industry-first partnership with Uber Freight.
“The Lancaster terminal will allow the company to establish, practice and refine the required infrastructure, operating processes and customer services needed for commercial driverless operations,” according to the news release.
It will also enable greater commercial and development activity with a growing set of commercial partners, Waabi officials note.
“Texas is a critical location for us as it is the home to our first commercial operations and several important shipping corridors. By establishing our presence here, we are committed to creating more opportunities for autonomous trucking in the region,” said Raquel Urtasun, Founder and CEO of Waabi. “We see this facility as a key player in not only Waabi’s future, but the future of autonomous trucking, as we use it to scale our operations to continue pushing the boundaries of this industry.”
The eight-plus acre terminal was built intentionally for autonomous trucking and includes several acres for trailer parking, a 24,700-square-foot office and maintenance shop, high-speed data offload, a fueling station, truck weighing scales and a dedicated pre-trip and post-trip inspection area.
“The Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) couldn’t be more excited to witness Waabi’s growth right here in Texas. With the addition of this new AV terminal, we will continue to show ourselves as a state committed to innovation in autonomous trucking and safety,” said John D. Esparza, TXTA’s president and CEO). “This new investment is a testament not only to the opportunities here, but a commitment to the highest safety standards.”
As a result of this new facility, Waabi officials say they expect to expand their team in the Dallas region in the coming years to support operations for current and future trucking routes, as well as research and development efforts.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
