Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, May 11, 2021:
TuSimple books thousands of orders for self-driving trucks
Self-driving technology company TuSimple said Monday it has received 6,775 reservations for a new line of purpose-built SAE Level 4 International LT Series autonomous trucks.
Level 4 automated driving means the vehicle does not require human intervention in the event of a problem or system failure.
The self-driving trucks, developed in partnership with Navistar, will be equipped with TuSimple's autonomous driving system and manufactured by Navistar beginning in 2024. Among the first customers to place reservations are Penske Truck Leasing, Schneider, and U.S. Xpress, among other large freight transportation companies in North America.
TuSimple's Autonomous Freight Network currently operates a fleet of 50 Level 4 autonomous trucks across 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.
Navistar, Schneider and U.S. Xpress are shareholders in TuSimple. Penske Truck Leasing and U.S. Xpress are among the partners in the Autonomous Freight Network.
Bendix gets FMCSA exemption for camera mount
Bendix has received a five-year regulatory exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for a windshield-mounted video camera, the company announced this week. The exemption is in effect until April 6, 2026.
