A partnership between two trucking companies has become a strategic play for Tyson Foods. Kodiak Robotics and C.R. England recently announced their own collaboration and in order to kick off the partnership, the companies have launched a pilot program to autonomously ship Tyson Foods products between Dallas and San Antonio, Texas.
“Tyson Foods is pursuing the leading edge of technology in all aspects of our business, especially in transportation,” said Patrick Simmons, Vice President of Transportation at Tyson Foods. “Autonomous trucks are just one piece of the puzzle in this innovation journey to use technology to operate more efficiently and to help ensure our transportation loads are delivered in a timely fashion.”
According to a press release, the deliveries will launch in April using Kodiak self-driving trucks and C.R. England refrigerated trailers. Safety drivers will be in the trucks in the initial stages of the pilot.
C.R. England has been in the business for 103 years and has consistently been ranked as a national top carrier for time-critical, perishable freight. Tyson Foods, as the release explained, is a perfect use for autonomous freight movement as the perishable food supply chain needs reliable, safe, and fast deliveries, all of which are key benefits of self-driving trucks.
In an industry where there is a shortage of truck drivers, autonomous trucks can be a huge benefit to the supply chain.
To learn more about this partnership, click here.
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