A company with a nearly 200-year history said it will launch fleet trials along the I-35 corridor to test 21st-century autonomous vehicle technology in large trucks.

Lisle, Illinois-based International Motors said the customer fleet trials using second-generation autonomous vehicles marks “a significant step” in its autonomous program. In partnership with California-based PlusAI, International will start piloting its autonomous on-highway tractor along I-35 between Dallas and Laredo with “select fleet operators.”

“This pilot program is a big step toward seamless digital operations that are designed to deliver an exceptional customer experience,” Tobias Glitterstam, chief strategy and transformation officer, said in a statement. “By working hand-in-hand with our customers, we are proving the commercial viability of autonomous technologies and providing innovative solutions that improve safety, efficiency, and the bottom line.”

International said the fleet trials will be managed from its autonomous hub in San Antonio to ensure close collaboration with customers and a better understanding of real-world applications.

Joining a long list of autonomous trucking pilots in North Texas

North Texas has been a proving ground for autonomous trucking for the last several years. Companies including Kodiak Robotics, Aurora Innovation, Waymo, Gatik, and Tu Simple have operated self-driving trucks with safety drivers in the cab in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth—reimagining how truckloads can be moved on our highways and roadways.

Last April, Aurora became the first company in the U.S. to operate totally human-free trucking runs—without a safety driver in the cab—between Dallas and Houston. However, observers were put back behind the wheel weeks later at the request of PACCAR, the manufacturer of Aurora’s Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks.

Autonomous tractor has ‘360-degree vision’ via cameras, lidar, imaging radar

The company said the second-generation autonomous tractor features an updated sensor suite and computer that has been factory installed on an International LT Series powered by the S13 Integrated Powertrain and the latest generation AI-based SuperDrive autonomous driving software from PlusAI.

International said that trained directly from real-world driving data, SuperDrive is built on end-to-end AI models that make it easily adaptable to new routes, geographies, and driving conditions. The company said the multimodal sensor kit combines imaging radar, lidar, and strategically placed cameras around the vehicle.

The company said that with 360-degree vision, those technologies deliver precise and efficient autonomous operation while prioritizing safety and reliability.

As part of broader efforts to drive the future of road freight, International and PlusAI said they are working to bring scalable, factory-installed autonomous solutions to the transportation industry and said the collaboration builds on a shared commitment to creating hardware and software solutions that are both technologically advanced and commercially viable for hub-to-hub operations.

The companies said that the customer fleet trials represent a critical opportunity to incorporate feedback and refine the autonomous solution.

“Deep customer collaboration is essential to understanding how autonomous systems can optimize freight routes, enhance safety, and lower operating costs,” James Cooper, director of autonomous business development at International, said in a statement. “This shared learning will guide the roadmap for scaling autonomy across major freight hubs, beginning with key corridors like I-35.”

International said that as the transportation industry moves toward an autonomous and connected future, International and its partners are laying the foundation for scalable logistics operations.

More on the companies

International Motors dates its history to a one-man company built on the invention of the McCormick reaper in 1831 to its current position as a 15,000-person-strong company. It builds International trucks and engines and IC Bus school and commercial buses and it also develops Fleetrite aftermarket parts.

As of 2021, International joined Scania AB, MAN Truck & Bus and Volkswagen Truck & Bus in the TRATON GROUP, a global champion of the truck and transport services industry.

PlusAI is an artificial intelligence company pioneering AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous trucks that’s headquartered in Silicon Valley with operations in the United States and Europe.

Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.

Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.