Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, May 4, 2023:
Hirschbach is testing an Aurora Driver-equipped Peterbilt 579 on a lane between Dallas and Houston.
“Since joining Aurora’s Industry Advisory Council, I have had a front row seat to the positive impact of autonomous technology,” said Richard Stocking, co-CEO of Hirschbach. “Autonomous trucks will provide safe and reliable capacity to supplement our existing network of incredible company drivers. We will identify opportunities that will expand autonomous capabilities across Hirschbach’s network that will hopefully supplement our drivers from monotonous stretches of highway and allow them to spend more time with their families.”
The new pilot will use a Peterbilt 579 upfit with the Aurora Driver autonomous driving system.
“We are extremely excited that Hirschbach has the confidence in Aurora’s technology and our ability to deliver perishable goods safely and on time,” said David Maday, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Product Strategy at Aurora.
Aurora’s new, next-generation trucking terminal in Dallas is designed to support these operations to maximize efficiency for a variety of customers, including refrigerated trailers. Aurora Driver-equipped tractors with Hirschbach reefer trailers started to make the 400-mile round-trip along the I-45 corridor between Aurora’s Houston and South Dallas terminals this week.
AJR Trucking, a carrier for the United States Postal Service and a drayage carrier operating in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, announced a purchase order for 50 Nikola Tre hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) trucks from Tom’s Truck Centers. Deliveries are expected to take place between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024.
