Refrigerated carrier agrees to purchase 500 self-driving semi trucks from Aurora

Driverless truck technology company Aurora Innovation, Inc. announced that one of the nation’s leading refrigerated carriers agreed to purchase hundreds of semi trucks equipped with autonomous driving technology.

On April 30, Aurora announced that trucking company Hirschbach Motor Lines has agreed to purchase 500 Aurora Driver-powered trucks, with delivery beginning next year.

Hirschbach entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) “outlining a path to scale with the final commercial terms and timing to be set in binding agreements expected to close later this year.”

The 500 trucks will be deployed within the Aurora network “on high-volume routes between customer facilities in the Sun Belt and beyond.”

Hirschbach plans to use the trucks to build a “hybrid network where autonomous trucks handle long-haul routes, allowing traditional drivers to focus on shorter hauls that get them home daily,” according to Aurora.

“The final deal will enable the carrier to aggressively scale its national network with 500 million driverless miles, while establishing a multi-year revenue stream for Aurora valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” Aurora said in a news release announcing the partnership between the companies.

The move is an expansion of an existing partnership between the two companies. Aurora says that trucks equipped with the company’s driverless technology have already traveled more than 800,000 miles while delivering over 2,000 loads for Hirschbach to date.

“The Aurora Driver will provide consistent 24/7 service to our customers, making it an important growth lever for our business,” said Richard Stocking, CEO of Hirschbach Motor Lines. “But autonomy isn’t just a business move – it’s a quality-of-life investment for our people. The Aurora Driver will handle the lengthier, less desirable routes, providing our drivers with greater flexibility. It’s a win-win.”

“We’re proud to deploy a hybrid network with our drivers and autonomous trucks as we move toward a safer, more efficient future for refrigerated freight,” said Stocking.

”When early adopters see the benefits the Aurora Driver delivers for their business and their drivers, they don’t just stay the course – they scale quickly,” said Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO of Aurora. “We’ve been lucky to have such a thoughtful and innovative partner since our early days and we look forward to growing with them. The industry is primed for this product, and our momentum toward meaningful commercial revenue is hitting a new gear.”