Artur Express to Run 100 Kodiak Self-Driving Sleeper Trucks
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Artur Express plans to operate 100 sleeper trucks with Kodiak Robotics’ self-driving truck technology installed in a partnership between the companies, they said.
Hazelwood, Mo.-based Artur Express ranks No. 93 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America. The hauler also ranks No. 29 among truckload carriers and No. 22 across refrigerated carriers.
“Being a part of self-driving truck development is extremely exciting as it will transform transportation and save lives. It will also improve the quality of work for our drivers, as the technology will increase the ability to have more frequent home time,” Artur Express co-President Artur Wagrodzki said.
“We are looking forward to future technology and how autonomous trucks will transform the way freight moves. Not only will we add autonomous capacity but also improve safety and reduce fuel consumption,” added Artur Express co-President Tom Tokarczyk.
How quickly the trucks will be on the road is still being worked out. “We are currently working with Kodiak on a proposed timeline. This includes selecting drivers from our fleet who will be inside each unit and implementing training on how Kodiak’s technology and our drivers will simultaneously work together,” Vice President of Operations Mark Koch told Transport Topics in an email.
Artur Express executives Artur Wagrodzki (left) and Tom Tokarczyk. (Artur Express)
The two companies also are determining the appropriate routes.
“Kodiak’s network of over 19,000 miles presents significant lane opportunities for Artur Express,” added a spokeswoman for Kodiak.
Truckload carrier Artur Express specializes in hauling dry and refrigerated commodities.
The technology can help give Artur’s drivers the tools they need to be successful when delivering loads across the country, the carrier said June 11 when announcing the partnership.
“We believe that engaging early with new technologies will provide an extra edge on taking care of our drivers and providing everything they need to perform to the best of their ability for our clients,” it said.
Artur Express driver Jimmy Shaffer walks toward his cab. (Artur Express)
Artur Express operates four battery-electric trucks operating in the metropolitan St. Louis area as part of its fleet of more than 700 semis.
Kodiak anticipates integrating its technology into the trucks of its first partner fleets in the second half of 2025, the company said.
Mountain View, Calif.-based Kodiak plans to introduce its first driverless operations along its Dallas-Houston route later this year. The company operates its own trucks with a driver in the cab. Kodiak’s primary focus in 2024 is the Dallas-Houston and Dallas-Atlanta routes, CEO Don Burnette told TT in February.
So far, Kodiak has publicly announced it is working with Martin-Brower Co., Maersk, Loadsmith, C.R. England, Tyson Foods, Forward Air, the U.S. Department of Defense, Ikea, Werner Enterprises, 10 Roads Express and Ceva Logistics.
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Martin-Brower ranks No. 8 on the TT top food service carriers sector list. Maersk ranks No. 5 on the TT Top 50 global freight companies list. C.R. England, Forward Air, Werner and 10 Roads rank Nos. 28, 27, 17 and 55, respectively, on the for-hire TT100. Tyson ranks No. 11 on the TT Top 100 private carriers list. Ceva ranks No. 24 on the TT Top 100 logistics companies list.
In April, Kodiak announced the formation of an advisory council to bolster autonomous trucking commercialization.
The Arkansas Trucking Association, Loadsmith, Walmart, Werner and UPS are among the inaugural members.
Walmart ranks No. 2 on the private TT100. UPS ranks No. 1 on the for-hire TT100. Kodiak has two truck ports for its operations in Villa Rica, Ga., and Houston. The Georgia facility opened in August 2023, while the Houston site opened in January. The latter will allow Kodiak to validate the Houston-Dallas route, Burnette told TT in January.
The company’s Villa Rica site is a partnership with truck stop operator Pilot Co., and the Houston facility is at a Ryder System Inc. fleet maintenance facility. Pilot ranks No. 20 on the private TT100, while Ryder ranks No. 9 on the for-hire TT100.
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