Autonomous truck developer Waabi has signed a multi-year lease on a new flagship autonomous trucking terminal, the company announced. The new facility is located in the Dallas suburb of Lancaster, Texas. It will serve as the center for the company’s Texas operations.

Waabi said the new facility is purpose-built for autonomous trucking. It will support the company’s current development operations and continued commercial growth in the southern United States.

Waabi established its initial commercial presence in Texas last year, hauling autonomous loads between Dallas and Houston through a partnership with Uber Freight. The Lancaster terminal will allow the company to establish, practice, and refine the required infrastructure, operating processes, and customer services needed for commercial driverless operations. It will also enable greater commercial and development activity with a growing set of commercial partners, the company said.

An Autonomous Trucking Hot Spot

Waabi said the eight-plus acre terminal was built intentionally for autonomous trucking. The facility includes several acres for trailer parking, a 24,000 square-foot office and maintenance shop, high-speed data offload, a fueling station, truck weighing scales, and a dedicated pre-trip and post-trip inspection area.

These commercial-ready capabilities will enable Waabi to rapidly house, maintain, prepare, inspect, and deploy autonomous trucks over the next several years, the company said.

“Texas is a critical location for us as it is the home to our first commercial operations and several important shipping corridors,” said Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO of Waabi. “By establishing our presence here, we are committed to creating more opportunities for autonomous trucking in the region,” “We see this facility as a key player in not only Waabi’s future, but the future of autonomous trucking, as we use it to scale our operations to continue pushing the boundaries of this industry.”

“The Texas Trucking Association couldn’t be more excited to witness Waabi’s growth right here in Texas,” added John Esparza, president and CEO of The Texas Trucking Association (TXTA).  “With the addition of this new AV terminal, we will continue to show ourselves as a state committed to innovation in autonomous trucking and safety. This new investment is a testament not only to the opportunities here, but a commitment to the highest safety standards.”

As a result of this new facility, Waabi said it expects to expand its team in the Dallas region in the coming years to support operations for current and future trucking routes, as well as research and development efforts.

To learn more about career opportunities in Lancaster, Texas and beyond, visit Waabi’s career page.