Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR), a self-driving company, has begun a pilot test of self-driving tractor-trailers along with Werner Enterprises. According to the two companies, they will be testing the use of Werner trucks on a 600-mile stretch between Fort Worth and El Paso.
The companies will be using the Aurora Driver system for the experiment. Nevertheless, the trucks will run with a human operator that will be ready to correct the trucks if there are any issues within the system.
“We’re proud to partner with Werner to bring safety, efficiency, and reliability benefits of self-driving technology to their business,” Aurora co-founder Sterling Anderson, said in a statement.
The action is a step forward for Aurora’s driverless technology, especially as trucking firms continuously struggle to retain qualified human truck drivers. However, Werner CEO, Derek Leathers assures that the move is not meant to completely replace its human drivers. Though Leathers believes that the technology will be able to complete routes that Werner human drivers would rather avoid, all the while boosting the company’s capacity throughout its busy seasons.
“Werner has a long history of pioneering new technology within the industry,” Leathers said in a statement. “This collaboration and pilot with Aurora is another step forward in our commitment to sustainability and safety for our drivers, customers, and the motoring public. We look forward to building a hybrid world where drivers continue to haul freight while autonomous trucks supplement rising demand.”