J.B. Hunt, Waymo partner up for Texas-based autonomous driving pilot

Late last week, Lowell, Ark.-based trucking and intermodal services bellwether J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced that its subsidiary, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. has partnered up with autonomous driving technology developer Waymo, in an initiative focused on an intra-Texas test run movement of freight for a leading J.B. Hunt shipper customer.

Hunt officials said that the test run will use Waymo Via, the company’s autonomous Class 8 trucking unit powered by the Waymo Driver and move freight between its customer’s Texas-based locations in Houston and Fort Worth on Interstate 45. And it added that this will be done through a Level 4 autonomous driving technology supervised by Waymo autonomous specialists, a commercially licensed driver and a software technician, on board to monitor every aspect of the Waymo Driver’s operations throughout the runs.

And they added that J.B. Hunt and Waymo Via will focusing on how autonomous driving technology can be integrated across fleets and enhance safety and efficiency. What’s more, they explained they have worked closely on operational and market studies that explored topics, including: best practices for regular maintenance, what future facility layouts will look like, and which lanes are best suited for autonomous driving technology. The trial run will also help J.B. Hunt and Waymo define how they can continue working together long-term, the companies noted.

“This will be one of the first opportunities for J.B. Hunt to receive data and feedback on customer freight moved with a Class 8 tractor operating at this level of autonomy,” said Craig Harper, chief sustainability officer and executive vice president at J.B. Hunt, in a statement. “While we believe there will be a need for highly skilled, professional drivers for many years to come, it is important for J.B. Hunt as an industry leader to be involved early in the development of advanced autonomous technologies and driving systems to ensure that their implementation will improve efficiency while enhancing safety.”