Autonomous

About Autonomous News...

Autonomous technologies now drive significant change in trucking and freight transportation. Transport Topics autonomous coverage provides a comprehensive look at that change. It provides the latest details on deployment concepts such as advanced driver-assist systems, transfer hubs, teleoperations, platooning and off-road automation and latest analysis of the companies who are manufacturing, adopting and investing in these technologies. Readers can follow the impact such deployment has on everything from policy and infrastructure initiatives to highway congestion, fuel consumption, fleet management, driver management and business investment.

Business, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous

Mining Giant Vies With Tech Firms for Workers in Push for Self-Driving Trucks

Rio Tinto Group, the world’s second-largest mining company, is focused as much on driver-less trucks and automated drills as conventional shovels and loaders these days. That means it needs a whole lot more high-tech workers.

Joe Deaux | Bloomberg News
October 4, 2017
Government, Business, Technology, Autonomous

ATA Chief Applauds Senators Supportive of Trucking Policy in Autonomous Bill

Efforts to include trucking-centric provisions in autonomous vehicle legislation that a committee will consider Oct. 4 were applauded by American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
October 3, 2017
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety, Logistics, Autonomous, TCA

Australia Expands Use of Caterpillar’s Self-Driving Truck Technology

Self-driving truck technology being developed by Caterpillar Inc. at its Tucson, Ariz., division headquarters will soon be used more extensively by iron ore mines in Australia

Gabriela Rico | The Arizona Daily Star
October 3, 2017
Business, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous, TCA

Delphi Spins Off, Renames Self-Driving Car Efforts as Aptiv

Delphi’s self-driving car efforts in Pittsburgh and elsewhere will go by a new name, the company announced Sept. 27.

Aaron Aupperlee | The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
September 28, 2017
Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety, Autonomous, TCA

Ford and Lyft Team Up to Put Driverless Cars on the Road

Ford will begin testing self-driving cars on ride-hailing company Lyft’s network with human drivers at the wheel for backup, the companies said Sept. 26.

Russ Mitchell | Los Angeles Times
September 28, 2017
Business, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous

Mercedes Will Deliver a Bag of Coffee to You by Drone in Zurich

Mercedes-Benz is taking the next step in an ambitious project to use drones for same-day delivery, with a three-week pilot in Zurich that will see mini copters shuttle bags of ground coffee to fixed points in the city.

Elisabeth Behrmann | Bloomberg News
September 28, 2017
Government, Business, Technology, Equipment, Safety, Autonomous, TCA

Sen. Thune Working on Creating Modern-Day ‘Rules of the Road’ for Autonomous Vehicles

As the Obamacare reform debate rages on in full force, U.S. Sen. John Thune doesn’t have his sights set entirely on the headline-stealing topics of health care and tax reform. The always busy South Dakota Republican is also eyeing legislation for the growing autonomous vehicle market, or self-driving cars.

Evan Hendershot | The Daily Republic (Mitchell, S.D.)
September 26, 2017
Business, Technology, Autonomous

Drivers to Remain Necessary Despite Advancements in Autonomous Vehicles, ATA Policy Expert Says

ATLANTA — The trucking industry will continue to depend on drivers to assist with the navigation of autonomous and connected truck fleets, a policy expert at American Trucking Associations said at the Connected Fleets USA conference Sept. 25.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
September 25, 2017
Business, Technology, Equipment, Fuel, Autonomous

Volvo, Mack Looking to Boost Sales in 2018 With New Highway Tractors

ATLANTA — Volvo Trucks North America is preparing for expected heavy-duty sales growth in 2018, and two trucks introduced earlier this year, the new VNR and the remodeled VNL, will be its main warhorses.

Jonathan S. Reiskin | Associate News Editor
September 25, 2017
Business, Technology, Fuel, Autonomous

Daimler Trucks Outlines Vision for Electric Vehicles, Platooning, Connectivity

ATLANTA — Daimler Trucks North America outlined its vision for electric trucks and platooning and showcased its latest advances in active safety and connectivity in the first press conference held by a truck manufacturer here at the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show.

Seth Clevenger | Managing Editor, Features and Multimedia
September 25, 2017