Volvo Starts Self-Driving Truck Operations in Texas

Volvo and DHL have confirmed that they have started autonomous freight operations in the United States.

The Swedish automaker’s Autonomous Solutions (VAS) strand and the German transportation company will initially be operating on two routes in Texas – between Dallas and Houston, and Fort Worth and El Paso.

The launch of the program sees the formal introduction of the Volvo VNL Autonomous, the company’s first-ever production-ready self-driving truck, which was revealed earlier this year in May at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas.

The “purpose-built” VNL Autonomous is an evolution of Volvo’s conventional VNL, a Class 8 semi designed for long-haul transportation, and features hardware and software from Pittsburgh company Aurora Innovation to deliver its self-driving capability. This includes a suite of sensors comprising high-resolution cameras, imaging radar and long-range lidar.

Although the VNL drives itself, initially at least it will be accompanied on the two routes by a safety operator who will monitor performance. And as you would expect of a company that has developed a reputation for world-leading safety in the automotive sector, the truck comes with built-in redundancy for critical systems.

This, explains Volvo, “replaces the back-up provided by a human driver with systems that can automatically take control in the rare case of primary systems encountering an issue.”

Related:Volvo Reveals Production-Ready Self-Driving Truck

The company has also been busy setting up a support network for its operations, opening an office in Fort Worth last year to help coordinate the introduction of the routes and enlisting the help of dealer Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment, plus other dealerships in the state, to provide servicing and maintenance. 

It is not yet clear how many trucks will be used on the routes and with what frequency, but Volvo says the new program marks the start of a “critical phase” in establishing and verifying the full ecosystem which will be needed to launch autonomous freight transportation at scale.

Sasko Cuklev of VAS explained: “Early adopters play a pivotal role in accelerating the deployment and acceptance of autonomous technology, enabling us to validate both safety and operational performance. Our collaboration with DHL Supply Chain exemplifies the potential of autonomy as a complementary mode of transport that increases freight capacity and optimizes supply chain efficiencies.”

Jim Monkmeyer of DHL added: “Our long-standing partnership with Volvo has been instrumental in aligning their autonomous transport solutions with our 24/7 operational demands. Volvo’s legacy of safety and relentless pursuit of innovation make them an ideal partner in our journey to elevate trucking efficiency and deliver greater value to our customers.”

Related:Volvo to Open Self-Driving Truck Hub in Texas

Ultimately, the vision for the VNL Autonomous is for it to operate without a driver between specific hubs on established freight corridors at all hours of the day and night, with humans taking over at the hubs for last-mile local journeys.