Daimler Truck: Subsidiary Torc Robotics cooperates with US logisticians

Daimler Truck aims to advance the development of autonomous truck transport in the USA with its independent subsidiary Torc Robotics. According to their own statements, the partners have been operating a fleet of autonomous trucks safely and reliably in daily test operations on public roads in the USA for years. Torc is now taking the next step and collaborating with US logistics companies to bring autonomous trucks into practical application. To this end, Torc has established the "Torc Autonomous Advisory Council" (TAAC) advisory board with stakeholders from the logistics industry to integrate comprehensive industry expertise into its development process.

Members of the advisory board include:

• Schneider,
• Covenant Logistics,
• Penske Truck Leasing,
• Ryder System, Inc.,
• C.H. Robinson and Baton, and
• Daimler Truck North America as the vehicle manufacturer.

The companies advise Torc on the integration of autonomous systems into their processes and business models. According to Daimler Truck, this also includes operational issues that go beyond mere highway driving. With this "Customer Co-Creation" approach, Torc focuses even more on specific customer requirements and concrete own business models, thereby entering the next phase of development. Daimler Truck and Torc continue to pursue the goal of developing autonomous trucks for long-haul transport and bringing them into series production within this decade.

Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck: "We are working intensively on autonomous truck transport because everyone can benefit from it. Level 4 self-driving trucks will contribute to increasing road safety as autonomous systems neither get tired nor distracted. Additionally, logistics efficiency will be improved as the trucks do not need breaks and can therefore be on the road more. Furthermore, autonomous driving will help manage the constantly growing freight volume, especially in times of significant driver shortages. For Daimler Truck, we see the potential to increase our service revenue. Moreover, there are significant market and growth opportunities. For all these reasons, we are developing the autonomous truck of the future.”

Joe Kaeser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Daimler Truck Holding AG: "I am truly impressed by what we have experienced at the test center in Albuquerque. The team at Daimler Truck has done a fascinating job with autonomous truck transport. The ride in the Level 4 truck gives a real sense of what is possible. Combined with our innovative strength in sustainable technologies, we can support our customers in developing their business models for the mobility of the future."

Progress on the Road to "Hub-to-Hub" Application

Since Daimler Truck took a majority stake in Torc three years ago, the companies claim to have made significant progress in autonomous driving. Typical driving scenarios such as lane changes and other demanding traffic situations on highways have been intensively tested over the past few years. Torc has thereby provided evidence that its autonomous driving software can safely navigate on the highway. In the meantime, Torc has expanded its road testing and is demonstrating self-driving L4 trucks with enhanced capabilities in more complex scenarios. The trucks are equipped with advanced LiDAR, radar, and camera technology. This enables adapted driving behavior in various situations on feeder roads and on-ramps, as well as when turning at intersections.