Paccar has teamed up with Fedex and Aurora to launch a commercial pilot of autonomous trucks in linehaul trucking operations.

Paccar’s autonomously-enabled trucks configured with the Aurora autonomous Driver platform will haul FedEx loads between Dallas and Houston, a 500-mile round trip, along the I-45 corridor.  The trucks will operate autonomously, with a backup driver for additional safety.

This is the first collaboration of its kind between a truck manufacturer, an autonomous technology developer and a logistics provider, Paccar officials said.

“As leaders in our respective fields, we have critical and unique perspectives on how to develop and deploy safe, self-driving truck solutions for this industry,” said Sterling Anderson, Aurora’s chief product officer. “This collaboration allows for the creation of a cohesive and integrated product and service. We believe there is no other credible way to deliver this complex and valuable technology at scale.”

In January 2021, Paccar announced a strategic alliance with Aurora to develop, test and commercialize autonomous Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks. The strategic alliance will integrate Paccar’s autonomous vehicle platform with the Aurora Driver.

“This new commercial pilot collaboration demonstrates the excellent progress that Paccar and Aurora are making in our strategic alliance,” Paccar Chief Technology Officer John Rich.

Is Collaboration the Answer to Trucking's Advancement?