C.H. Robinson and Waymo Via have formed a long-term strategic partnership to explore the practical application of autonomous driving technology in logistics and supply chains.

The partnership combines the benefits of Waymo’s autonomous driving technology, the Waymo Driver, with C.H. Robinson’s Navisphere technology.

The collaboration initially will focus on running multiple pilots in the Dallas-Houston transportation lane, with Waymo Via autonomous trucks hauling C.H. Robinson’s customer freight.

“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," said Chris O’Brien, COO at C.H. Robinson, in a release. "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.”

During and after the pilots, the companies will collaborate to shape the future development and expansion of autonomous driving technology as an additional transportation solution, according to the announcement. 

“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. “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.”