DHL To Haul Freight Using TuSimple’s Robot Big Rigs

TuSimple, the first autonomous driving tech company to list shares in the U.S., is working with DHL to integrate its robotic semi-trucks into the global shipping giant’s operations, with initial plans to supply it with 100 high-tech big rigs. 

With the units DHL has ordered TuSimples now has reservations for 6,875 trucks it’s developing with Navistar. This month DHL also began daily freight runs using trucks in TuSimple’s “Autonomous Freight Network” between Dallas and San Antonio, Texas. Those AI-enabled vehicles, loaded up with digital cameras, radar, laser lidar and computers, have human safety drivers behind the wheel, though TuSimple plans to operate its first “driver out” trucking run–with no human backup–before the end of this year, according to CEO Cheng Lu.

“We’re really excited to announce this partnership. We’ve been doing some logistics work with them, but now we’re really going to be able to push that further now that they’re also a reservation partner,” Lu tells Forbes. 

DHL joins UPS and more than a dozen other large shipping companies that have opted to work with San Diego-based TuSimple, which also has trucking operations in China. Interest in autonomous trucking and delivery, which promise to generate revenue earlier than robotic taxi services, have lifted TuSimple’s market capitalization to more than $7 billion even though it won’t generate substantial revenue for at least another year. 

DHL will be a customer and commercial partner, but it’s not directly investing in TuSimple as UPS did. The 100 trucks it ordered should be delivered by 2024, Lu said. 

“Partnering with leading-edge technology companies is foundational to our digital transformation strategy, and TuSimple will play a key role in supporting our adoption of next wave transportation solutions,” Jim Monkmeyer, DHL’s president for transportation supply chain, said in a statement. “We share TuSimple’s vision of utilizing efficiencies to drive a more sustainable future and have been encouraged by the results so far.”

TuSimple said last month that after two years of hauling loads for UPS its trucks racked up more than 160,000 autonomous miles and, when operating at optimal highway speeds of no more than 68 miles per hour, achieved a 13% reduction in fuel consumption. 

Currently, TuSimple generates revenue hauling loads in trucks in its freight network between Arizona and Florida. Its fleet of about 70 autonomous trucks, though tiny relative to the thousands of vehicles operated by conventional trucking companies, is the largest among robotic semi developers, including Waymo, Embark, Aurora and Kodiak. 

TuSimple shares rose 1.2% to $33.19 in Nasdaq trading on Wednesday.