Dive Brief:
- Torc Robotics is partnering with Schneider National to pilot the tech company’s autonomous test fleet, according to a Sept. 20 press release.
- As part of the pilot, Schneider National will provide Torc with freight loads for its pilot operations to “guide the development” of the robotics company’s autonomous technology and ensure it’s meeting industry needs, according to the announcement.
- The multi-phased agreement includes an initial evaluation by Schneider National of Torc’s technology, followed by system integration and day-to-day commercial operation pilots throughout 2023.
Dive Insight:
Torc’s deal with Schneider National is one of many tech and carrier partnerships popping up in the industry as companies push to get autonomous trucking technology on the road.
Schneider National has been adding autonomous partners to its operations for years. The carrier launched a pilot with Aurora in August to haul freight between Dallas and Houston, and last year TuSimple announced Schneider National as one of its customers.
Torc currently runs pilots in New Mexico and Texas, with plans to expand, Torc Chief Strategy Officer Andrew Culhane said in a statement to Transport Dive. “While we are not currently disclosing specifics on areas of pilot operations, these operations will expand beyond those two,” Culhane said.
Schneider National will work with the Virginia-based tech company “all the way through commercialization,” according to a Torc spokesperson.
The new pilot will include two or more Torc employees in each cab, one of whom will be an experienced and trained safety driver behind the wheel at all times. The pilot will launch in the coming weeks in the southwest U.S., the company said in a statement.
