Waymo Via, the self-driving technology unit for Alphabet, said Wednesday that it will partner with truck fleet operator C.H. Robinson to test automated trucks in Texas.
The two companies will run multiple trucks with safety pilots in them for C.H. Robinson’s customer in the Dallas-Houston area, the company said in a press release.
“We look forward to this collaboration with C.H. Robinson, both for their deep roots and experience in logistics and transportation, but also as a company that shares our vision of how technology and autonomous trucking can change our industry for the better,” Charlie Jatt, Head of Commercialization for Trucking, Waymo Via said. “C.H. Robinson’s size, scale, and platform gives us access to rich and unique transportation data along with customer relationships and pilot opportunities to help bring our Waymo Via solution to the market.”
The partnership would take advantage of C.H. Robinson’s nearly 200,000 shipper and carriers, as well as its data on more than 3 million lanes. Waymo Via will use the data to help apply its technology to the automated trucking industry. C.H. Robinson also offers access to its medium and small carrier base, as well as a platform for connecting shippers with AV capacity, the companies said.
“We are excited to partner with Waymo Via to explore how autonomous driving technology can help bring increased capacity and sustainability into our logistics strategies,” Chris O’Brien, chief commercial officer of C.H. Robinson, said. “Together, we are going to harness this emerging freight technology and its potential on behalf of customers and carriers. We believe there is a real opportunity to bring our scale and information advantage to bear to help develop transportation solutions for them and their ability to participate in and benefit from AV.”