TuSimple partners with insurer to examine the safety benefits of autonomous trucks as it pushes expansion
The company looks to showcase a new standard for safety in trucking, reducing both fuel-consumption and truck-related fatalities
TuSimple have partnered with Liberty Mutual Insurance Partner to study the safety benefits and how autonomous technologies perform, in comparison to the same types of trucks driven manually by human drivers.
TuSimple's current Autonomous Freight Network (AFN) operates a fleet of 50 L4 autonomous trucks across the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The company plans to expand the AFN network coast-to-coast by 2023 and today transports freight for revenue on highways and surface streets for customers such as UPS, U.S. Xpress and the Arizona Association of Food Banks, among others.
TuSimple has also received 6,775 reservations for a new line of purpose-built SAE Level 4 (L4) International LT Series autonomous trucks in partnership with Navistar International Corporation. The self-driving trucks will be equipped with an advanced autonomous driving system and manufactured beginning in 2024. Among the first customers to place reservations are Penske Truck Leasing, Schneider and US Xpress, among other large freight transportation companies in North America.
"These early reservation numbers reflect the appetite surrounding self-driving technology in long-haul applications," said Bob Walsh, Vice President, Emerging Technologies, Strategy & Planning, Navistar. "We are happy to partner with TuSimple to offer this integrated autonomous solution to our customers."
"We believe the benefits of autonomous vehicles are powerful and will play a vital role in reducing the number of truck-related fatalities in the future," said Jim Mullen, Chief Administrative and Legal Officer for TuSimple. "Given most accidents are caused by distracted, impaired and fatigued driving – factors that are eliminated by autonomous trucks – we expect the data to reveal significant safety advantages when TuSimple's autonomous driving technology is applied."