The American transporter JB Hunt, associated with Kodiak Robotics, made more than 80,000 kilometers of rotation between South Carolina and Texas to transport shipments of Bridgestone tires. An unprecedented partnership between a shipper, a transporter and an autonomous technology supplier.
L’info. Benefiting from very favorable legislation, the driving of autonomous trucks has just reached a new milestone in the United States.
Since last January, one of the largest American carriers, J.B. Hunt has established in collaboration with Bridgestone and Kodiak Robotics an autonomous transportation corridor linking Atlanta, South Carolina, to Dallas, Texas.
Maximum punctuality rate. These three partners indicate that they have crossed the 80,000 kilometer mark (or 50,000 miles) without the slightest incident. This ambitious project, which integrates trucks equipped with the autonomous driving program provided by Kodiak to transport Bridgestone tires, has reportedly demonstrated a 100% on-time rate for pickups and deliveries.
A journey in three stages. The journey, approximately 1,200 kilometers long, begins at the Bridgestone factory in Aiken, South Carolina, from where JB Hunt transports the cargo to the Kodiak autonomous hub near Atlanta.
From there, Kodiak autonomous trucks take over for the long journey to Dallas, under the supervision of a team of two safety drivers.
Once arriving in Dallas, JB Hunt takes over to deliver the cargo to the Bridgestone distribution center in Roanoke.
A harmonious solution. “By working closely with Kodiak and Bridgestone, we were able to design a solution that seamlessly integrates autonomous technology into everyday operations. It is a perfect illustration of how our mode-neutral approach can leverage diverse offerings. services to produce efficient, value-driven solutions tailored to the specific needs of our clients”says Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer at JB Hunt.
To optimize the return journey, JB Hunt uses its own freight exchange (called 360box) to identify potential customers on the route.
Smart tires. The equipment manufacturer Bridgestone – a long-time investor in Kodiak – indicates through its vice-president of logistics operations, Brad Blizzard, that it has succeeded in proving “that autonomous long-distance shipping is no longer just a dream, but a concrete reality. We are excited to expand our routes, develop this partnership and invest in the mobility of the future.”
As part of this partnership, Bridgestone integrated its intelligent sensing technologies into the tires of Kodiak’s autonomous trucks to improve the vehicles’ awareness of the ground. Bridgestone is also the exclusive tire supplier for Kodiak.
