Waymo, UPS Expand Autonomous Freight Truck Tie-Up Ahead Of Holidays
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Alphabet Inc’s Waymo said on Wednesday it is expanding its partnership with United Parcel Service Inc to move freight using autonomous trucks between two of the parcel delivery company’s Texas facilities during the holiday season.
Waymo Via, the company’s delivery operation, began its partnership with UPS in early 2020 when it shuttled packages for the company between the Metro Phoenix area and its Tempe hub in Arizona using an autonomous minivan.
The company said trial runs would start in the coming weeks, where big rigs equipped with its fifth-generation Waymo Driver technology will deliver for UPS’ North American Air Freight unit between facilities in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, Texas.
Driver shortages have hit U.S. trucking and delivery companies, most notably FedEx Corp, as they race to hire workers for the crucial holiday season when package volumes can easily double. Waymo and UPS said the trials would help assess the impact of autonomous driving technology on safety and efficiency.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which specific Waymo division is responsible for this expanded partnership with UPS?
Which specific Waymo division is responsible for this expanded partnership with UPS?
Waymo Via, the company’s dedicated delivery operation, is handling the expanded tie-up. This division previously partnered with UPS using an autonomous minivan for package shuttling.
Q.What kind of vehicles will Waymo be using for this new freight delivery service in Texas?
What kind of vehicles will Waymo be using for this new freight delivery service in Texas?
Big rigs equipped with Waymo’s fifth-generation Driver technology will be used for the freight delivery. These vehicles will operate between UPS facilities in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
Q.When did the original partnership between Waymo and UPS for package delivery begin?
When did the original partnership between Waymo and UPS for package delivery begin?
The partnership between Waymo and UPS started in early 2020. Initially, Waymo used an autonomous minivan to shuttle packages between the Metro Phoenix area and UPS's Tempe hub in Arizona.
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