Loadsmith's Ambitious Plan to Deploy 800 Kodiak Self-Driving Trucks
Third-party Capacity-as-a-Service startup, Loadsmith, is making a bold move in the logistics industry by ordering a whopping 800 autonomous trucks from Kodiak Robotics. These self-driving trucks will form the backbone of Loadsmith's emerging Loadsmith Freight Network. Equipped with Kodiak Driver self-driving technology, the trucks are set to revolutionize the middle miles of freight transportation on some of the most popular lanes in the United States. Loadsmith's CEO and founder, Brett Suma, envisions collaborating with smaller fleets on multiyear contracts, where human drivers will handle the first and final miles of goods movement.
Suma highlights that the adoption of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is partly motivated by addressing the current driver shortage and redefining the role itself. The delivery of the Kodiak Driver-powered self-driving trucks by Kodiak Robotics is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2025, subject to regulations allowing autonomous operations without human drivers. Suma expresses a long-standing interest in autonomous technology, emphasizing its potential to transform the role of drivers and pave the way for the next generation of workers.
Texas is setting the stage to possibly become the first hotspot for mainstream driverless trucks, thanks to initiatives by companies like Waabi and Aurora Innovation.