Arkansas-based JB Hunt Transport Services, one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, has entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Waymo Via to advance and integrate commercial autonomous driving technology in transportation and logistics. The companies’ goal is to achieve fully autonomous transport within the next few years.
Waymo Via is its trucking arm of Waymo, the self-driving unit of Google-parent Alphabet. JB Hunt Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President Craig Harper said a pilot on the I-45 in Texas last year helped “get a hands-on understanding of how autonomous driving technology could be implemented within our operations. This strategic alliance will continue that momentum and further explore the intricate details that would make this a value-driven solution for customers,” he said. “We believe autonomous driving technology will help us create the most efficient transportation network in North America, and our collaboration with Waymo Via is a pivotal step towards fulfilling that mission.”
The expanded collaboration will include multiple pilots to further analyse the operational capacity and capability of a Class 8 truck equipped with Waymo’s self-driving technology.