Artur Express has announced a plan to operate 100 sleeper trucks equipped with Kodiak Robotics' self-driving technology. This partnership aims to enhance transportation efficiency and safety. Artur Express, based in Hazelwood, Missouri, is a major player in the trucking industry, ranking 93rd among the largest for-hire carriers in North America, 29th among truckload carriers, and 22nd among refrigerated carriers.

Artur Wagrodzki, co-president of Artur Express, expressed excitement about the collaboration, highlighting that self-driving trucks will revolutionize transportation, improve safety, and allow drivers more home time. His co-president, Tom Tokarczyk, added that autonomous trucks will not only boost capacity but also enhance safety and reduce fuel use.

The exact timeline for when these self-driving trucks will hit the road is still under development.

Mark Koch, Vice President of Operations, mentioned that they are working with Kodiak to establish a timeline, select drivers from their fleet, and provide necessary training to ensure seamless integration of the technology with human drivers.

Both companies are also deciding on the best routes to deploy these autonomous trucks. A Kodiak spokeswoman noted that their extensive network offers many route options for Artur Express.

Artur Express, which specializes in transporting dry and refrigerated goods, believes that this technology will provide their drivers with the tools needed for successful deliveries nationwide. The company emphasized that adopting new technologies early will help them better support their drivers and meet client needs.

Currently, Artur Express operates four battery-electric trucks in the St. Louis area as part of its larger fleet of over 700 semis. Kodiak expects to begin integrating its self-driving technology into trucks of its first partner fleets in the latter half of 2025.

Kodiak, based in Mountain View, California, plans to start its first driverless operations along the Dallas-Houston route later this year. The company, which operates its trucks with a driver in the cab for now, will focus on the Dallas-Houston and Dallas-Atlanta routes in 2024, according to CEO Don Burnette.

Kodiak has already announced partnerships with several other companies, including Martin-Brower Co., Maersk, Loadsmith, C.R. England, Tyson Foods, Forward Air, the U.S. Department of Defense, Ikea, Werner Enterprises, 10 Roads Express, and Ceva Logistics. These companies hold significant positions on various Transport Topics lists of top carriers and logistics companies.

In April, Kodiak formed an advisory council to support the commercialization of autonomous trucking, with members including the Arkansas Trucking Association, Loadsmith, Walmart, Werner, and UPS.

Kodiak operates two truck ports, one in Villa Rica, Georgia, and another in Houston, Texas. The Georgia facility, opened in August 2023, is a partnership with truck stop operator Pilot Co., while the Houston facility, opened in January, is located at a Ryder System Inc. fleet maintenance site. These ports are crucial for validating key routes such as the Houston-Dallas corridor.