Self-driving trucks built by Volvo and run by software from Waabi are now carrying paying customers' freight between Dallas and Houston, the companies said Monday.
Volvo Autonomous Solutions said its Volvo VNL Autonomous trucks, operating with the Waabi Driver system, are hauling loads for Warp, a freight company that mixes less-than-truckload and full-truckload shipping in one network. Volvo's announcement lists Walmart, DoorDash and Gopuff among Warp's customers. The trucks deliver straight to third-party facilities rather than running only between dedicated terminals.
The trucks drive themselves, but a person is still aboard. "Currently autonomous hauls are run with an observer in the driver's seat," Volvo said, according to The Dallas Express. The companies did not give a date for taking the observer out.
What the companies say
Volvo said the truck was designed for autonomy from the start, with backups for six safety-critical systems. Nils Jaeger, president of Volvo Autonomous Solutions, said lessons from "the Dallas–Houston corridor" will feed into the partnership as it grows. Waabi Chief Operating Officer Lior Ron called the Warp work a "first milestone" showing the trucks can handle real-world freight.
Warp CEO Daniel Sokolovsky said his company coordinates shipments from many customers, "so advances on a single lane can benefit the broader network."
The companies said they will use what they learn on this route to prepare more routes.
