Uber Freight and Aurora Team Up to Bring Self-Driving Trucks to Carriers

Uber Freight and Aurora Innovation just made a pretty big step toward "democratizing" self-driving trucks, bringing the industry closer to a driverless future.

The Big News

• Uber Freight and Aurora launch "Premier Autonomy" program
• Qualified carriers can buy self-driving trucks through 2030
• Trucks equipped with Aurora Driver subscription

"When you're a carrier that's looking to bring on autonomous trucks, you need to know how the technology works and whether it'll work within your network." - Zac Andreoni, VP of Business Development, Aurora

What's Under the Hood?

• Aurora Driver: Self-driving hardware and software
• 360-degree view with lidar, radar, and cameras
• Modular design for easy updates

The Road to Autonomy

• 12-18 month qualification process for carriers
• Initially, Aurora will own and operate 20 trucks
• Plans to transition to carriers buying their own autonomous trucks

This isn't just a tech demo. We're talking about real, revenue-generating autonomous freight routes.

Show Me the Money

• Access to $18 billion of Uber Freight-managed volume
• Higher utilization could boost efficiency on major corridors
• Back-office support for load booking, dispatching, and payments

"With higher utilization, AVs can make freight corridors a whole lot more efficient, stimulating growth in the overall volume of freight moved." - Olivia Hu, Head of Autonomous Trucking, Uber Freight

Texas-Sized Success

• Pilot program running Dallas to Houston since 2021
• Dozens of loads per week currently
• Aiming for fully driverless runs by end of 2024

Safety First

• Aurora's safety case 95% complete
• Final validation in coming months
• Enhanced pre-trip inspections for driverless ops

This partnership is about making autonomous trucking a commercial reality at a much faster pace.

Source: FreightWaves