Scaling Autonomy: Uber Freight and Volvo Autonomous Solutions Set a New Standard for Driverless Trucking

A New Era for Autonomous Trucking

The freight industry is accelerating into a new era: mass production of autonomous-ready, fully redundant vehicles built at scale. For supply chains, this is more than a technical evolution; it’s a powerful signal that autonomy is ready to serve the complex demands of modern supply chains by enabling greater resilience to market volatility and a more efficient logistics ecosystem. As demand for reliable and more automated logistics accelerates, the collaboration between Uber Freight and Volvo Autonomous Solutions marks a defining moment in the journey from innovation to industry transformation and redefines what’s possible on the road.

The Volvo–Uber Freight Partnership: Real-World Traction

Since 2023, Uber Freight and Volvo Autonomous Solutions have collaborated to move autonomous trucking from vision to reality. Unlike one-off pilots, our partnership has delivered commercial loads consistently across Texas for the last two years. Uber Freight is uniquely positioned as the network of choice for autonomous freight, providing the platform and scale needed to enable high-utilization, automated digital operations. This partnership isn’t about trying out the future—it’s about building it today.

What Makes This Different — Factory-Built, Fully Redundant Trucks

With the assistance of carrier partners, Volvo Autonomous Solutions is moving loads with Uber Freight using the Volvo VNL Autonomous. The Volvo VNL Autonomous is the first fully redundant truck from Volvo’s autonomous truck platform. It is purpose-built for autonomy with redundancies or fall-back systems for safety critical functions like braking and steering. Unlike earlier autonomous trucks that were often custom-built for limited pilots, Volvo’s ability to mass produce these purpose-built vehicles means they are no longer just prototypes, but scalable solutions ready to meet the demands of the modern supply chain. The Volvo VNL Autonomous is manufactured on the pilot line at Volvo’s New River Valley plant, the largest Volvo Trucks facility in North America, ensuring high-quality, scalable production backed by almost 100 years of OEM manufacturing expertise.

Bringing safe, reliable autonomous trucks from the factory floor to the highway marks a major milestone for our industry. However, making autonomous transport a practical option requires more than just building trucks—it demands a robust, comprehensive ecosystem to ensure reliable operations. At V.A.S., our ecosystem approach addresses this need by providing uptime support through Volvo’s dealer network, as well as managing operations, terminals, and additional critical components. Our focus is not on a single pilot, but on building a scalable foundation for the future of logistics. Partnering with Uber Freight, whose digital network and operational expertise align perfectly with our approach, will help us scale this ecosystem and deliver measurable value to our customers.
– Sasko Cuklev, Head of On-Road Solutions at V.A.S.

Delivering for Uber Freight’s Shippers

Uber Freight’s shippers get the benefits of these trucks today as a good fraction of the commercial loads hauled by V.A.S. on Uber Freight are moved with these redundant trucks.
Here’s what our shippers have gained:

• Dependable Safety and Uptime:
  By moving loads with trucks engineered from the ground up for autonomous operation—including fully redundant steering and braking systems—V.A.S. enables reliable autonomous operations with a safety driver and ensures that freight continues moving securely and efficiently.
  
  

• Consistent, Predictable Deliveries:
  With automation integrated deeply into the truck’s operation, shippers have enjoyed greater consistency in routes and delivery windows—even across challenging lanes compared to driver operated trucks.
  
  

• Data-Driven Visibility:
  Through Uber Freight’s platform, shippers have access to real-time tracking and operational data, enabling proactive planning and swift adjustments when needed.
  
  

• Operational Learning and Partnership:
  By working closely with Uber Freight and Volvo Autonomous Solutions, our customers have been at the forefront of shaping how autonomous technology meets real-world shipping needs, giving them an early edge as the industry scales up.
  
  

• Confidence for the Future:
  Early access to autonomous trucks has allowed our network partners to test, learn, and prepare—not just for today’s freight challenges, but for tomorrow’s opportunities as mass production unlocks greater capacity.

A Growing Trend — The Market Signals Are Clear

The arrival of factory-built, redundant autonomous trucks signals that autonomy is here to stay. As OEMs chart their autonomy roadmaps and launch plans, two things are clear: the technology is maturing, and the industry is moving quickly toward wide adoption. Uber Freight’s liquid freight marketplace helps V.A.S. deploy at scale, and this collaboration places us at the forefront of autonomous innovation and commercial deployment.

The Road Forward — Touchless Logistics at Scale

Autonomous trucking isn’t just about vehicles—it’s about creating a seamless, low-friction supply chain. Tools to reduce manual touchpoints, automate routine processes, and streamline workflows are now more important than ever. Uber Freight’s digital network—proven since 2023 with real-world autonomous operations—enables us to deliver on this promise at scale. One of the key reasons shippers have benefited from our autonomous partnership with Volvo isn’t just the technology on the truck—it’s the technology in the network. Today, Uber Freight and Volvo Autonomous Solutions are deeply integrated behind the scenes, connecting systems through both Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and modern APIs.

What does this mean for our shippers?

• Faster, More Accurate Data Flow:
  Orders, tracking updates, and status notifications move instantly between platforms, allowing our shippers to monitor freight in real time and with full confidence.
  
  

• Seamless Workflows:
  From booking to delivery, automation minimizes manual input, reducing the risk of human error and freeing up staff to focus on strategic work.
  
  

• Scalable Operations:
  As autonomous capacity expands, our integrated systems ensure that even rapid increases in volume or new route activations happen smoothly, with minimal disruption to existing shipping processes.
  
  

• Consistent Experience:
  Shippers enjoy the same high level of reliability and transparency whether their load is moved by an autonomous or traditional truck—thanks to this robust digital backbone.

By investing early in system integrations, Uber Freight and V.A.S. have built a foundation for seamless, scalable, and transparent logistics—empowering shippers to benefit from innovation.

Conclusion — Leading the Way into the Future of Freight

At Uber Freight, our commitment to innovation drives everything we do. Our unique partnership with Volvo Autonomous Solutions is more than a milestone—it’s a blueprint for the future of logistics. By combining best-in-class autonomous technology with the industry’s most connected freight network, we’re helping to lead the way for shippers, carriers, and industry partners. As autonomous trucking shifts from concept to commercial reality, Uber Freight will remain the network of choice for those ready to move ahead.