Locomation signed an eight-year agreement with Stevens Trucking of El Reno, Oklahoma, to bring autonomous trucking to its operations. Stevens’ primary activity is in Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio.
Using Locomation’s planning and optimization system, Stevens will restructure its operation using a relay model to run its trucks 20-plus hours per day. If the technology development succeeds, the company will then begin deploying up to 500 trucks equipped with Locomation’s Autonomous Relay Convoy (ARC) systems on six separate Autonomous Relay Network lane segments over five years.
Locomation’s ARC system is a human-led convoy of two trucks that are electronically tethered. This Human-Guided Autonomy solution enables one driver to operate the lead truck while a second driver rests in the follower truck, allowing carriers to safely operate two trucks for 20 to 22 hours per day, all while remaining in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Hours-of-Service regulations.
With Locomation’s freight optimization and autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, Stevens plans to double its market share on these lanes, reduce empty miles by up to 50 percent, and improve fuel efficiency by more than 20 percent.
“We are delighted to partner with Locomation to offer autonomous trucking services to our customers,” said Kenney Stevens, CEO of Stevens Trucking, in a prepared statement. “We chose Locomation because we’re convinced they are bringing to market the safest and most viable turnkey model to enable us to deploy autonomous technology in the near term. For Stevens, this is an incredible opportunity to establish a strong early mover presence in the lanes we’ve chosen to launch in and enable us to double our market share.”
Source: Locomation
