Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Royal Truck and Equipment Tests Vocational Autonomous Trucks on Florida Highway

Royal Truck and Equipment develops autonomous platooning technology for vocational and municipal applications such as sweepers, water trucks, line stripers, or maintenance trucks.

February 4, 2020
Royal Truck and Equipment Tests Vocational Autonomous Trucks on Florida Highway

Royal Truck and Equipment Royal, in collaboration with Kratos Defense,tested its Autonomous Truck Mounted Attenuator in a live demonstration on Florida's highways.

Photo: Royal Truck and Equipment 

2 min to read


Royal Truck and Equipment is a small, autonomous truck developer based in Coopersville, Pennsylvania, that specializes in platooning technology for vocational and municipal applications. The company says its autonomous control system can be used to operate a truck in a “Follower” mode when paired with a “Lead” vehicle.

Royal first developed this technology for use by the U.S. military and has since adapted it for the roadway construction industry through a partnership with Kratos Defense. The company said its technology can be added to any standard fleet vehicle such as sweepers, water trucks, line stripers, or maintenance trucks with either one, or multiple "Follower" trucks.

Ad Loading...

On February 4, 2020, Royal, in collaboration with Kratos Defense, announced it would be putting its Autonomous Truck Mounted Attenuator (ATMA) technology to the test in a live demonstration on Florida's highways.

The company’s ATMA truck will be deployed in a live test operation spanning a 5-mile stretch of I-75 beginning near mile marker 160 and heading south.

During the live demonstration, the ATMA truck will support a mobile highway operation following behind a maintenance vehicle to provide protection from errant vehicles that might inadvertently enter the work zone. This is an autonomous leader-follower system consisting of a human-driven leader vehicle that transmits GPS data to the unmanned follower vehicle, which is the ATMA truck.  Advanced features include precision navigation, obstacle detection, and a number of operator-controlled parameters relevant to the operational environment in the lane closure.

More Fleet Management

Geotab screen on AI concept background
Fleet ManagementJune 17, 2026

What Geotab's New AI Connector Means for Fleets

Fleets can now ask their usual AI assistants questions about maintenance, safety, fuel use, and vehicle performance, using their live Geotab data, and take action on the answers without leaving their preferred AI tool.

Read More →
Image of computer screen with BidBoardX interface

New C.H. Robinson Tool Opens Door to More Predictable Freight

BidBoardX lets carriers search, bid on, and secure committed freight opportunities through a single digital marketplace.

Read More →
Amazon electric cargo bike on New York City street
Fleet ManagementJune 15, 2026

New York City's Microhub Project is Delivering Results

Trucking, last-mile delivery companies, and environmental advocates like what they are seeing so far with New York's microhub program.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of hourglass and trucks backed up to a dock
DriversJune 15, 2026

Why Truck Detention Keeps Costing Fleets Time and Money

A 2024 ATRI study found detention affects nearly 40% of truckload stops and costs the industry more than $15 billion annually. Despite the toll on drivers, fleets, and supply chains, the problem remains stubbornly persistent.

Read More →
Panel discussion
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJune 12, 2026

Time is Running Out to Apply for Exclusive HDT Event

Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange brings fleet managers and suppliers together for the deeper conversations that lead to ideas, partnerships, and solutions. Time is running out to apply for the September event.

Read More →
Empty trailer with worker loading a pallet of cargo
Fleet ManagementJune 10, 2026

Amazon Launches Less-Than-Truckload Freight Offering for All Businesses   

This launch is the latest addition to Amazon Supply Chain Services, a portfolio of supply chain capabilities from Amazon, including freight, distribution, fulfillment, and parcel shipping.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Stacks of intermodal containers at port with truck driving between them

Import Cargo Volume to See Year-Over-Year Gain Again in June, Then Remain Below 2025 Levels Into Fall

After July, the report predicts a weakening in import volume as consumer uncertainty remains high and the impact of increasing inflation takes its toll.

Read More →
Equity Interest Auction
SponsoredJune 8, 2026

AUCTION OF EQUITY INTEREST IN HEAVY HAUL TRUCKING COMPANY!!

Mark your calendar: June 30, 2026 (10:00 a.m. PDT). A 37.5% ownership interest in MagnaTrans, LLC, a California limited liability company doing business as Magna Transportation Group, will be sold in an in-person and online auction to the highest bidder or bidders under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The Rancho Cucamonga-based heavy haul and over-dimensional trucking company operates across California, Oregon, and Arizona.

Read More →
Volvo OTA updates.

Volvo Trucks Adds Unattended Over-the-Air Software Update Capabilities

The latest evolution of Volvo’s over-the-air update technology allows software updates to run while trucks are parked, helping fleets keep vehicles current without disrupting operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Podcast thumbnail illustration
Fleet ManagementJune 4, 2026

How Waste Connections is Using Data, Telematics, and AI

How do you manage and maintain more than 18,000 connected trucks? Data. Lots of it.

Read More →