Volvo Autonomous Solutions (V.A.S.) and DHL Supply Chain have taken a significant step towards transforming freight transportation, the companies announced. 

V.A.S. and DHL have launched of autonomous operations in the United States on two separate routes in Texas. 

The operations will be enabled by the purpose-built, production-ready Volvo VNL Autonomous which is powered by the Aurora Driver.

Ecosystem Validation

The start of these autonomous operations marks a critical phase in validating the full ecosystem required for autonomous transport at scale, according to Sasko Cuklev, head of on-road solutions for V.A.S.

Cuklev and Jason Gillespie, senior director, continuous improvement and innovation, shared their thoughts on joint autonomous operations in a separate interview with HDT ahead of the announcement. 

At this stage, a safety driver will be present to monitor performance and ensure seamless integration into existing logistic networks. Freight will initially be hauled on two lanes, Dallas to Houston and Fort Worth to El Paso. 

“Early adopters play a pivotal role in accelerating the deployment and acceptance of autonomous technology, enabling us to validate both safety and operational performance,” Cuklev said. “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.”

“Autonomy is a key enabler in advancing the digital transformation across the logistics sector by providing reliable long-haul capacity added Jim Monkmeyer, president of transportation for DHL Supply Chain North America, 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.”

Uncompromising Commitment to Safety

Staying true to Volvo's long-standing commitment to safety, the Volvo VNL Autonomous is designed from the ground up with built-in redundancy for critical systems, according to Cuklev. 

In autonomous trucks, redundancy replaces the backup provided by a human driver with systems that can automatically take control in the rare case of primary systems encountering an issue, ensuring safe operations.

This safety approach is further strengthened by Volvo’s close partnership with Aurora, whose sophisticated and robust technology enables the Volvo VNL Autonomous to safely navigate the world around it. The Aurora Driver is equipped with powerful sensors, including high-resolution cameras, imaging radar, and proprietary long-range lidar that allow for safe autonomous operations at highway speeds. 

“As part of the Volvo Group, we have access to industry leading product development, world-class manufacturing and a mature dealer and service network,” said Nils Jaeger, President of Volvo Autonomous Solutions. “For a large-scale deployment of autonomy, in addition to the autonomous truck, there also needs to be a cohesive and seamless support network of surrounding infrastructure, which creates a comprehensive autonomous ecosystem that enables daily operations.” 

To ensure uptime for future autonomous fleets, V.A.S. has leveraged the industry and transport knowledge of key Volvo Trucks’ dealers across Texas to establish critical support and service points for the Volvo VNL Autonomous. 

Investing in the Future of Freight

According to Gillespie, autonomous trucks are set to revolutionize the transport industry by lowering operational costs, increasing efficiency, and enhancing safety. With 24/7 capabilities, autonomous transport can accelerate delivery times and optimize supply chains, promoting a more resilient transport network.

“Autonomous trucks can also offer drivers new opportunities, such as remote monitoring and management of fleets while also addressing ongoing labor challenges,” added Monkmeyer. “Additionally, autonomous trucks can reduce the physical and mental strain on drivers, leading to improved quality of life and increased job satisfaction.”

Both Cuklev and Gillespie stressed that strategic partnerships like that of V.A.S. and DHL Supply Chain are essential for developing and deploying autonomous technology. 

Working together, Gillespie said, V.A.S. and DHL are  leveraging resources and expertise to earn regulatory and public trust and acceptance of autonomous technologies—and ultimately, to deliver on the full promise of autonomy.

Innovation and Early Adoption

Cuklev said the autonomous transport solution offered by Volvo Autonomous Solutions includes a vehicle purpose-built for autonomous driving, a virtual driver, required infrastructure, operations and uptime support as well as a cloud solution that controls the transport system and manages logistics flows. 

The solutions developed by Volvo Autonomous Solutions are tailor-made for each customer's needs are intended to make their operations safer, and more productive and sustainable.

“We want to be innovative at DHL,” Gillespie added. “We want to be early adopters.  And V.A.S. allows us to do that in this space. We've been big believers that the autonomous trucking for Class 8 is a great fit because of the length of haul, because of safety, and really. And it helps with the demand of the driver shortage. And so, at DHL, we just want to be forward-thinking and adopt these new solutions. And Volvo is a good fit for us because both companies put such and many places you know, their focus on safety and our focus on safety.”

“This is a is a very big milestone for us,” Cuklev noted. “We have been working for quite some while now, together with DHL. And together, we have set the autonomous process up and all of the associated procedures and responsibilities. So, we can say now that the ecosystem is in place.”

Volvo dealers are fully involved as well, Cuklev added. “They will support us from a service and maintenance perspective,” he said. “And we have backup solutions available in case we cannot pull the load autonomously. So basically, we have the first version of the ecosystem up and running, and now we take the step to start to introduce autonomous trucks to North America – which will be a huge milestone for us.”