J.B. Hunt, Waymo Via to Expand Autonomous Trucking Collaboration

January 14, 2022

J.B. Hunt Transport Services has announced a long-term, strategic alliance with Waymo Via aimed to advance innovative efforts to integrate commercial autonomous driving technology in transportation and logistics. The goal is to complete fully autonomous transport in Texas within the next few years, the companies said.

The expanded collaboration will include multiple pilots to further analyze the operational capacity of Waymo Via, the company’s autonomous Class 8 trucking unit powered by Waymo Driver software, to address customer needs in realistic scenarios. The two companies completed their first trial runs last year, moving freight along Interstate 45 in Texas for one of J.B. Hunt’s leading customers.

“Our pilot last year with Waymo Via really helped us get a hands-on understanding of how autonomous driving technology could be implemented within our operations,” said Craig Harper, chief sustainability officer and executive vice president at J.B. Hunt. “This strategic alliance will continue that momentum and further explore the intricate details that would make this a value-driven solution for customers.”

Beyond highway transport, the two companies said they will explore solutions that merge autonomous driving technology with the digital marketplace. J.B. Hunt’s technology platform – J.B. Hunt 360° – provides digital freight matching and was responsible for processing 1.25 million loads in 2020. A combined solution that makes Waymo Via accessible through the 360 offering would be “a unique offering with potential to greatly improve transportation efficiency,” the companies said. They added that the collaboration would also include operational and market studies to refine the commercial readiness of the autonomous driving technology.

“Establishing this strategic alliance marks an exciting moment for our relationship, and more importantly, paves the way for us both to help grow the foundations for successful deployment and to capitalize on the benefits of autonomous driving technology,” said Charlie Jatt, head of commercialization for trucking at Waymo.

For more details on the Waymo Via technology, visit its website here.