Caterpillar, WM Talk Remote Operation, Autonomy

Cat and customer WM are already piloting remote operation. How might it lead to autonomy?
Jan. 12, 2026

WM (formerly Waste Management) and Caterpillar, two industrial giants, appeared together at the Consumer Electronics Show last week in Las Vegas to talk tech.

Construction Equipment senior editor Frank Raczon gained an exclusive interview with John Morris, WM's president and COO, and Caterpillar group president Bob De Lange, to check in on their partnership on remote-controlled equipment and the road to autonomy.

Learn about Caterpillar's "AI Assistant"

Earlier in the day, Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed used CES to announce the company would soon be releasing autonomous models in the wheel loader, excavator, dozer, and roller categories.

About the Author

Frank Raczon

Raczon’s writing career spans nearly 25 years, including magazine publishing and public relations work with some of the industry’s major equipment manufacturers. He has won numerous awards in his career, including nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and BtoB magazine. He is responsible for the magazine's Buying Files.

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