Aurora’s autonomous trucks have begun hauling loads booked with the Uber Freight app in Texas.
AuroraAurora, an autonomous tech developer that intends to offer a commercial driverless semitruck service starting in 2023, intends to integrate its subscription-based system into Uber Freight, the truck-booking service operated by ride-hail giant Uber.
This month semi-trucks, equipped with Aurora’s software, sensors and computing system, began hauling cargo on behalf of Uber Freight in Texas, though with human backup drivers at the wheel, the company said in a blog post today. The “drop-and-hook loads” were made between the Silicon Valley-based company’s hubs in Dallas and Houston, where loads were transferred to trucks booked through Uber Freight to take them for final delivery.
“By leveraging Uber Freight’s technology, we were able to perform a seamless handoff between Uber Freight’s local carriers and our Vehicle Operators at the transfer hub, paving the way for a hybrid future with local carriers and Aurora-powered trucks,” the company said. “As we expand our routes and Aurora terminals, we’ll increase our coverage and deepen the integration of Aurora Horizon within Uber Freight’s network.”
Aurora Horizon, the company’s subscription service for autonomous trucking, is to be integrated into Uber Freight’s platform over the next two years to help goods flow more efficiently, with less idle time in the overall shipping process, according to Aurora.
“A huge challenge in the freight industry is addressing underutilization and inefficient load procurement,” the company said. “This underuse is why many U.S. carriers rely on Uber Freight, a transformative logistics platform that connects shippers with one of the world’s largest digitally-enabled carrier networks. . . . The integration of Aurora Horizon into a digital marketplace like Uber Freight enhances its value to carriers by providing them with additional tools to increase asset utilization and unlock more opportunities to haul goods.”
The supply chain disruptions of 2021, combined with a shortage of long-haul truck drivers, has raised the profile of companies developing autonomous driving tech for big rigs including TuSimple, Embark, Waymo and Aurora. Though Waymo and Aurora are also working on autonomous ride services (and Waymo already operates a commercial one in suburban Phoenix), self-driving trucks may become a more lucrative business in the near term, owing to growing demand for ever-faster deliveries.
Aurora acquired Uber’s autonomous tech unit at the end of 2020 and the ride-hail company is also one of its key investors. Aurora also intends to provide an autonomous ride system for use by Uber within the next few years.
Shares of the company, which went public via a SPAC merger in November, rose 9.6% to $13.22 in Nasdaq trading on Wednesday.
