Sweden’s Volvo Autonomous Solutions and DHL Supply Chain have launched autonomous operations in the U.S. out of Dallas-Fort Worth, enabled by the purpose-built, production-ready Volvo VNL Autonomous, which is powered by the Aurora Driver.

Initially, freight will be hauled on two lanes, Dallas to Houston and Fort Worth to El Paso. Volvo said that this marks a critical phase in validating the full ecosystem required for autonomous transport at scale.

Volvo said that at this stage, a safety driver will be present to monitor performance and ensure seamless integration into existing logistic networks.

“Early adopters play a pivotal role in accelerating the deployment and acceptance of autonomous technology, enabling us to validate both safety and operational performance,” Sasko Cuklev, head of On-Road Solutions at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, said in a statement. “Our collaboration with DHL Supply Chain exemplifies the potential of autonomy as a complementary mode of transport that increases freight capacity and optimizes supply chain efficiencies.”

Joining other North Texas autonomous trucking operations

Volvo Autonomous Solutions announced the opening of its Fort Worth office in June 2023, as Dallas Innovates reported at the time.

With its operations launch, Volvo joins other autonomous trucking companies including Torc Robotics, Kodiak Robotics, Aurora Innovation, Waymo, and Gatik in making North Texas a key hub for reimagining how truckloads can be moved on our highways and roadways.

Self-driving trucking to be ‘a key enabler’ in logistics

Jim Monkmeyer, president of transportation for DHL Supply Chain North America, lauded his company’s long partnership with Volvo.

“Autonomy is a key enabler in advancing the digital transformation across the logistics sector by providing reliable long-haul capacity,” Monkmeyer said. “Our long-standing partnership with Volvo has been instrumental in aligning their autonomous transport solutions with our 24/7 operational demands. Volvo’s legacy of safety and relentless pursuit of innovation make them an ideal partner in our journey to elevate trucking efficiency and deliver greater value to our customers.”

Focusing on safeaty

Volvo said its VNL Autonomous is designed from the ground up with built-in redundancy for critical systems. In autonomous trucks, redundancy replaces the backup provided by a human driver with systems that automatically take control in the rare case of primary systems encountering an issue, ensuring safe operations, Volvo said.

This safety approach is further strengthened by Volvo’s close partnership with Aurora, whose “sophisticated and robust technology” enables the Volvo VNL Autonomous to safely navigate the world around it, Volvo said. The Aurora Driver is equipped with powerful sensors, including high-resolution cameras, imaging radar, and proprietary long-range lidar that allow for safe autonomous operations at highway speeds.

“As part of the Volvo Group, we have access to industry leading product development, world-class manufacturing and a mature dealer and service network,” Nils Jaeger, president of Volvo Autonomous Solutions, said in a statement. “For a large-scale deployment of autonomy, in addition to the autonomous truck, there also needs to be a cohesive and seamless support network of surrounding infrastructure, which creates a comprehensive autonomous ecosystem that enables daily operations.”

To ensure uptime for future autonomous fleets, V.A.S. is partnering with Amarillo-based Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment, along with other key Volvo Trucks dealers across Texas, to set up critical support and service points for the Volvo VNL Autonomous.

David Seeley contributed to this report.

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