Gatik, an autonomous trucking leader in “middle mile” logistics, continues to expand its strong DFW presence. Today it announced a multi-year partnership with Pitney Bowes, the global shipping and mailing company, that will mean even more self-driving trucking routes on Dallas streets soon.
Under the agreement, Gatik’s self-driving fleet of class 6 box trucks will begin making “multiple deliveries per day” across Pitney Bowes’ e-commerce logistics network in the Dallas area, beginning in Q1 2023.
Safety operator will monitor performance
During the initial phase of the operations, a safety operator will be in the trucks to monitor performance, Gatik says. Data collected from each Pitney Bowes delivery will be used “to improve network design and identify additional opportunities for cost savings and service improvements,” as Pitney Bowes explores the integration of autonomous vehicles across its national e-commerce network.
Gatik is also delivering goods to 34 DFW Sam’s Club stores
In June, Gatik announced it was partnering with Georgia-Pacific and KBX, the transportation arm for Koch Industries, to deliver goods autonomously to 34 Dallas-Fort Worth Sam’s Club locations. The deliveries were slated to begin last month and operate “up to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Gatik said at the time.
Gatik CEO: Seeing ‘intense demand’
“Our partnership with Pitney Bowes reinforces the intense demand we’re seeing for autonomous trucks that can operate within urban and semi-urban environments,” Gatik co-founder and CEO Gautam Narang said in a statement. “We’re excited to help Pitney Bowes accelerate the transformation of their supply chain by establishing a safe, secure and hyper-responsive autonomous delivery service in the greater Dallas area.”
Stephanie Cannon, SVP and head of global platform and network for Pitney Bowes, sees the partnership as a way to speed her company’s modernization.
“Our partnership with Gatik promotes growth and accelerates the modernization and expansion of our network with technology solutions that are redefining e-commerce logistics,” Cannon said in the statement.
She added that Gatik’s network will help Pitney Bowes tailor its Designed Delivery services to provide shippers with “unmatched solutions.”
“Pitney Bowes and Gatik’s innovative strategies align to remove cost and complexity from ecommerce logistics to better serve our clients,” Cannon said.
A hub at The MIZ in Fort Worth
Gatik is based in Mountain View, California, and operates a hub out of the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (the MIZ) in Fort Worth. Last August, we reported Gatik’s raise of $85 million in a Series B funding round led by Koch Disruptive Technologies. At the time, the company said the funding would help it scale its fleet of Class 3-6 autonomous box trucks across new North American markets.
The company says it anticipates creating over 500 new jobs in Texas by 2025, including operational, technical, and business roles.
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