Waymo will partner with C.H. Robinson to test its Waymo Via autonomous truck solution along the Dallas-Houston transportation corridor. This long-term, strategic partnership will initially include running multiple pilots for C.H. Robinson’s customers in the Dallas-Houston transportation lane with our Waymo Via test fleet, according to Waymo.
C.H. Robinson has a network of nearly 200,000 shipper and carriers and data on over 3 million lanes, which will provide data at scale. C.H. Robinson also offers access to its medium and small carrier base and a platform for connecting shippers with AV capacity, so this collaboration lays the foundation to explore how Waymo can make its technology available to more partners, according to the company.
How do Waymo autonomous trucks work?
The company partners with OEMs to build redundant trucks that will be designed for and equipped with the Waymo Driver. Then, fleets and carriers will purchase these trucks, and Waymo Via will provide deployment support and ongoing services for hardware and software components.
“We look forward to this collaboration with C.H. Robinson, both for their deep roots and experience in logistics and transportation, but also as a company that shares our vision of how technology and autonomous trucking can change our industry for the better,” said Charlie Jatt, head of commercialization for trucking at Waymo Via, in a prepared statement. “C.H. Robinson’s size, scale and platform gives us access to rich and unique transportation data along with customer relationships and pilot opportunities to help bring our Waymo Via solution to the market.”
Said Chris O’Brien, chief commercial officer for C.H. Robinson in a statement:
“We are excited to partner with Waymo Via to explore how autonomous driving technology can help bring increased capacity and sustainability into our logistics strategies. Together, we are going to harness this emerging freight technology and its potential on behalf of customers and carriers. We believe there is a real opportunity to bring our scale and information advantage to bear to help develop transportation solutions for them and their ability to participate in and benefit from AV. C.H. Robinson is also best positioned to represent the role of drivers and small and mid-size carriers in a more autonomous future.”
Source: Waymo
