J.B. Hunt and Waymo Launch Autonomous Freight Pilot on Texas Interstate
J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Waymo are testing self-driving trucks to move freight along Interstate 45 between Houston and Fort Worth. The pilot program features Class 8 trucks operating with autonomous technology while human specialists monitor the runs.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services partners with Waymo to test self-driving trucks on a Texas freight route. Waymo Via, the autonomous trucking unit of Waymo, transports loads along Interstate 45 between Houston and Fort Worth for an unnamed J.B. Hunt customer. This limited pilot program represents a significant step in integrating autonomous technology into commercial freight operations.
The Class 8 trucks drive autonomously on the interstate during these freight runs. However, each vehicle carries two Waymo specialists, including a commercially licensed driver and a software technician, to monitor the self-driving system and ensure safety. This setup allows the companies to gather critical data while maintaining a human oversight layer.
J.B. Hunt executives view this collaboration as a valuable opportunity to receive direct data and feedback on customer freight moved with highly autonomous tractors. The company emphasizes that skilled professional drivers remain essential for the foreseeable future, but exploring this level of automation is a crucial step for their long-term operational strategy.