It is not clear exactly where the autonomous truck sector really stands, with much uncertainty in both the technology and regulatory domains. (See Where things Stand in the Autonomous Truck Market.)
Supply Chain Digest Says...
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| The goal, the company said, will be to guide and influence its product and strategic road map in that will help to guide the development of autonomous trucking so that is benefits both the trucking industry and society. |
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That in part after over the not to recent past autonomous truck makers TuSimple, the Alphabet Company’s Waymo unit, Embark and Locomation all left the market.
One that didn’t is a company called Kodiak Robotics, which makes driverless trucks for both the freight and defense markets. The company says it aims to begin operating autonomous trucks on public roads without a driver on board later in 2024.
Kodiak also made news this week with an announcement of its new advisory board, which includes executives from Walmart, UPS and truckload carrier Werner, among other members.
The company says that The Kodiak Industry Advisory Council will focus on product development, deployment and public engagement related to commercializing autonomous trucks.
James Reed was selected to be the council chairman. Reed is vice president of transportation development at Walmart and also a Kodiak board member. He also helped start American Trucking Associations’ diversity, equity and inclusion subcommittee.
Other members of this inaugural advisory group include:
• Chad Dittberner, senior vice president of dry and expedited services at Werner
• Anne Ferro, former administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• William Kruger, vice president of fleet maintenance and engineering at UPS
• Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association
• Brett Suma, founder of Loadsmith
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 Kodiak says the council will meet quarterly meetings to address key issues, such as public education about autonomous trucks and the steps that can be taken to increase customer adoption of that technology.
The goal, the company said, will be to guide and influence its product and strategic road map in that will help to guide the development of autonomous trucking so that is benefits both the trucking industry and society.
Said Michael Wiesinger, vice president of commercialization at Kodiak, in an interview with Transport Topics magazine, ““The autonomous trucking industry is at a pivotal moment. It’s not a question of whether self-driving technology will happen but rather when it’s going to happen. Assembling this council in a way that ensures all perspectives are heard, from large fleets to startups to regulators and leading industry groups."
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