Waymo envisions a 'driver as a service' business model.
, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, on a fully autonomous Level 4 system for trucks.
While much of the public’s focus has been on Waymo’s autonomous minivans that operate in Arizona as part of a ride-hailing service, less attention has been paid to the company’s stated plans to eventually launch a commercial freight hauling business. The trucks operate autonomously during tests and commercial deliveries but include two Waymo employees — a commercially licensed driver and a software engineer — who sit in the cab and monitor the driving.
The trucking industry is dealing with a global shortage of drivers, as well as ongoing disruptions as a result of the chip shortage and supply chain mishaps. Chris O’Brien, chief commercial officer at CH Robinson, said the brokerage is hoping that Waymo’s technology can provide relief on multiple levels to help during this particularly fraught moment for the logistics industry.
“Autonomy is coming to this industry and to carriers either way,” O’Brien said. “So it was important for us to jump in to represent those small and medium sized carriers, especially because they represent the majority of that capacity on the road.”Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week.Please confirm your subscription to Verge Deals via the verification email we just sent you.
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