Autonomous trucking, once regarded as the stuff of science fiction, is gradually moving closer to viability in real-world freight operations after years of investment, development and on-road testing.

Located on Montana State University’s Innovation Campus, the office is designed to support development and testing of Aurora’s FirstLight Lidar technology.

Volvo Autonomous Solutions’ factory-built VNL Autonomous Class 8 tractors hit the road for the first time as part of a commercial operation Dec. 4, hauling freight for DHL Supply Chain.

The company is shutting down its European operations simultaneously, and existing employees in Europe will have to reapply for new jobs.

The evaluation examines multiple facets of operations, from the core self-driving component to the ecosystem of supporting services.

Artur Express plans to operate 100 sleeper trucks with Kodiak Robotics’ self-driving truck technology installed in a partnership between the companies, they said.

Autonomous technology developer Waabi raised $200 million that will help carry it through the commercial launch of fully self-driving trucks in 2025, the Toronto-based company said.

Daimler Truck unveiled plans May 8 to begin operating an autonomous, battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia demonstration truck.

Waabi Innovation opened a terminal in Lancaster, Texas, to serve as the center of the company’s operations in the state, which are at the heart of the self-driving truck specialist’s ambitions.

The federal government awarded Fort Worth, Texas, $2 million to test weather sensors on autonomous freight truck routes.