Aurora and Werner Launch Commercial Pilot to Autonomously Haul Freight in Texas

Rhea-AI Summary

Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR) and Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN) have announced a commercial pilot to deploy autonomous trucks on a critical freight route between Fort Worth and El Paso, Texas. This collaboration will leverage Aurora's self-driving technology to enable 24/7 freight hauling. The pilot aims to enhance efficiency and reliability, while operators will accompany the trucks for safety. With the route exceeding 600 miles, this initiative seeks to improve service for one of Werner's busiest commercial lanes and marks a significant milestone for scaling autonomous operations.

Positive

• Collaboration with Werner enhances Aurora's customer ecosystem.
• Launch of a new autonomous freight route addresses operational efficiency.
• Potential to increase the frequency of autonomous loads in the coming months.

Negative

• None.

• Werner to pilot Aurora’s autonomous trucks to provide customers with scalable technology to haul freight 24/7/365
• Aurora adds additional autonomous route between Fort Worth and El Paso

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ: AUR) and Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN), a premier transportation and logistics provider, announced a collaboration and commercial pilot to test and safely deploy autonomous trucks on one of the most commercially active and critical stretches of highway in the country.

Photo: Aurora

Starting this week, Aurora Driver-powered trucks are hauling loads between Fort Worth and El Paso on behalf of Werner. This lane represents the middle leg of one of the busiest commercial thoroughfares for Werner and the U.S. trucking industry: Atlanta to Los Angeles. Introducing an autonomous route between Fort Worth and El Paso allows Werner to move freight seamlessly and reliably on a subset of one of its most voluminous lanes.

The collaboration with Werner strategically broadens Aurora’s customer ecosystem to include multiple carrier types. The pilot is designed to advance the Aurora Driver, and Aurora Horizon, Aurora’s autonomous truck product, to develop a robust service for carriers. Today, operators are accompanying each truck in the pilot fleet on weekly hauls, ready to assist if necessary. Over the next several months, Aurora and Werner expect to increase the frequency of these loads and are exploring further autonomy for vehicles in this lane.

The Fort Worth to El Paso lane is over 600 miles and takes approximately nine hours to complete. Its long-distance and monotony contribute to this lane’s reputation for being unappealing for truck drivers. By deploying the Aurora Driver on such hauls, Aurora and the companies it is working with are building a future in which autonomous trucks can handle less popular routes, while human drivers transport more convenient hauls that are conducive to desirable lifestyles.

Launching this new route is a technical and operational milestone toward deploying the Aurora Driver at scale. To start this commercial pilot, Aurora brought two new terminal sites online to service this route and built the technological and operational infrastructure required to operate it. The technical, operational, and commercial muscle Aurora is building in the process will serve its customers well as they deploy Aurora-Driver-powered trucks at scale.

“Werner has a long history of pioneering new technology within the industry,” said Werner’s Chairman, President and CEO Derek Leathers. “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 through innovation. We look forward to building a hybrid world where drivers continue to haul freight while autonomous trucks supplement rising demand.”

“We’re proud to partner with Werner to bring the game-changing safety, efficiency, and reliability benefits of self-driving technology to their business,” said Sterling Anderson, Aurora’s Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer. “We look forward to maturing and streamlining these hybrid operations and ultimately delivering a product that delivers value to Werner and its customers at a large scale.”

About Werner

Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WERN) delivers superior truckload transportation and logistics services to customers across the United States, Mexico and Canada. With 2021 revenues of $2.7 billion, an industry-leading modern truck and trailer fleet, over 13,500 talented associates and our innovative Werner EDGE technology, we are an essential solutions provider for customers who value the integrity of their supply chain and require safe and exceptional on-time service. Werner provides Dedicated and One-Way Truckload services as well as Logistics services that include truckload brokerage, freight management, intermodal and final mile. As an industry leader, Werner is deeply committed to promoting sustainability and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.

About Aurora

Aurora (Nasdaq: AUR) is delivering the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly to make transportation safer, increasingly accessible, and more reliable and efficient than ever before. The Aurora Driver is a self-driving system designed to operate multiple vehicle types, from freight-hauling semi-trucks to ride-hailing passenger vehicles, and underpins Aurora Horizon and Aurora Connect its driver-as-a-service products for trucking and ride-hailing. Aurora is partnered with industry leaders across the transportation ecosystem, including Toyota, FedEx, Volvo Trucks, PACCAR, Uber, Uber Freight, U.S. Xpress, and Werner. To learn more, visit www.aurora.tech.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220406005552/en/

Fred Thayer, Associate Vice President - Corporate Brand and Communications

Werner Enterprises, Inc.

402.895.6640 ext. 100-2065

fthayer@werner.com

Khobi Brooklyn

press@aurora.tech

(415) 699-3657

Source: Aurora Innovation, Inc.

FAQ

What is the collaboration between Aurora and Werner about?

Aurora and Werner are piloting autonomous trucks on a key freight route from Fort Worth to El Paso, Texas, aiming to enhance efficiency and reliability in freight hauling.

How long is the route for the Aurora and Werner pilot?

The route between Fort Worth and El Paso is over 600 miles long and takes approximately nine hours to complete.

What technology is Aurora using in its partnership with Werner?

Aurora is deploying its self-driving technology, known as the Aurora Driver, to facilitate autonomous freight transportation.

What are the expected outcomes of the Aurora-Werner pilot?

The pilot aims to improve service efficiency, explore further vehicle autonomy, and increase the frequency of autonomous loads in the near future.