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Up to 20 autonomous Aurora Innovation trucks could start regularly delivering cargo without a human operator by the end of 2024.
That’s what the tech company’s CFO, David Maday, said. he said to one Barclays Investor Conference last week. Aurora Innovation is moving towards delivering commercial cargo on tractor-trailers using autonomous technology, aiming for a rollout by the end of next year.
Aurora already delivers over 75 commercial cargoes per week for pilot customers, using human operators on board.
“We will continue to do exactly what we are doing today,” Maday said. “We’ll do it without a human operator.”
The potential for technology to reduce labor costs could be significant. Autonomous 25-ton trucks on medium-mile routes could cut traditional costs, according to study up to 50% in a best-case scenario and about 24% in a worst-case scenario.
Potential benefits have already attracted interest from major players working with Aurora, according to an investor presentation. Such carriers include FedEx, Hirschbach Motor Lines, Schneider National, Werner Enterprises and Uber Freight.
For Aurora, commercial traffic will be a lane between Dallas and Houston, but that’s just the beginning.
“After the launch, we will continue to expand both the number of loads we do from the Dallas to Houston lane,” Maday said. “But then we will focus on the expansion and the Fort Worth-El Paso lane.”