The tweener lane between Dallas and Atlanta is an ideal stretch to deploy autonomous trucks, providing increased efficiency and resilience in the supply chain. Don Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotic, noted its capability for 24/7, 6-day operations with safety driver teams monitoring it to meet hours-of-service regulations. This innovation has allowed Forward Air Corp. and Kodiak Robotic to provide a service along nearly 800 miles of freight lanes between Dallas and Atlanta.
Kodiak’s mapping approach accelerates the introduction of autonomous lanes and enables real-time, fleet-wide mapping updates over the air. Since August 2022, Kodiak has delivered over 100 loads and driven over 100,000 miles for Forward. Tom Schmitt (Chairman, President, and CEO of Forward) said: “We need to explore emerging technologies to serve our customers. Kodiak has an outstanding reputation for safe autonomous trucking, so this collaboration allows us to explore potential benefits. Autonomous trucks won’t replace independent contractor capacity, but this could be a scalable solution for certain lanes.”
Kodiak’s agreement with Forward is the latest in a growing series of fleet and carrier relationships. Previously announced partnerships include IKEA, Werner Enterprises, U.S. Xpress, 10 Roads Express, and CEVA Logistics.
Leave a Comment