Companies are using autonomous trucks to haul refrigerated loads for top fast food chains

Kodiak Robotics, Inc. is deploying driverless truck technology to haul refrigerated loads for top fast food chains, the company said on Thursday.

On February 29, Kodiak announced a partnership with logistics company The Martin-Brower Company, L.L.C., to use autonomous trucks to haul refrigerated freight for quick service restaurants eight times per week between Dallas and Oklahoma City.

Kodiak says that the companies have been working together since July 2022 and have completed 600 autonomous deliveries.

As part of the partnership, Kodiak’s autonomous trucks run full trailers of refrigerated food along “shuttle lanes” between distribution hubs, then allow local drivers to deliver the freight from those hubs to fast food restaurants, which include “two of the top five largest fast food chains in the United States.”

The companies are looking to expand their partnership to additional shuttle lanes.

“We chose Kodiak because we share a mutual commitment to safety and customer service,” said Mark Grittner, Director – Global Capital, Fleet & Facilities, Martin Brower. “By working together, we are able to benefit from the safety, reliability and efficiency provided by Kodiak’s autonomous technology while also ensuring our local drivers can continue to provide the best-in-class customer service that is foundational to Martin Brower’s reputation.”

“Your next order of fries may have traveled on a Kodiak truck,” said Don Burnette, founder and CEO, Kodiak. “Autonomous trucks are well-suited to the difficult work of long-haul driving, while allowing our partners’ local drivers to handle last-mile deliveries and provide a personal touch for customers. Martin Brower’s shuttle lane model is an ideal application for Kodiak that enables us to demonstrate the value of our technology within our customers’ existing networks.”