Waabi, an autonomous driving technology company, has joined forces with Uber Freight in a strategic partnership to boost the deployment of AI-powered autonomous trucks on a large scale. The collaboration aims to provide carriers with the necessary services and infrastructure to seamlessly deploy, maintain, and manage their autonomous assets.
Central to the agreement is Waabi’s core technology, known as the Waabi Driver, which will be combined with Uber Freight’s extensive logistics platform and marketplace technology to create a comprehensive driver-as-a-service system. This unique system is expected to empower carriers by allowing them to effectively deploy the Waabi Driver while simultaneously increasing capacity for shippers and driving value throughout the supply chain.
Over the next decade, Waabi and Uber Freight plan to deploy Waabi Drivers with billions of miles of capacity alongside carrier partners on the Uber Freight network. The companies anticipate that this technology will have a significant and long-term impact on shippers and carriers.
To provide a glimpse into the future of supply chain operations with autonomous trucking, Waabi’s autonomous commercial loads have already commenced regular runs between Dallas and Houston. This initiative offers thousands of shippers and carriers on the Uber Freight network an opportunity to experience the benefits of autonomous trucking firsthand. As the partnership progresses, Waabi plans to expand to other important routes within Texas and beyond.
Waabi’s bundled autonomous driving system not only helps increase asset utilization but also drives profitability for carriers of all sizes. Through this system, Waabi has already deployed autonomous trucks on the Uber Freight network, allowing both companies to gather valuable insights for further improvement.
A key aspect of the partnership is Waabi’s driver-as-a-service model, which will integrate the Waabi Driver with Uber Freight’s technology and services. Carriers utilizing Waabi Driver-enabled trucks will have the option to seamlessly deploy their assets on the Uber Freight network, taking advantage of continuously optimized routes and an ecosystem of partnerships that include transfer hub infrastructure, roadside assistance, and national maintenance providers.
Launched in 2021 by former Uber ATG chief scientist Raquel Urtasun, Waabi has already secured $83.5 million in Series A funding. The company’s ultimate goal is to make autonomous driving technology easily accessible and compatible within a scaled freight network, optimizing load matching, operations between hubs, and providing carriers with a streamlined experience for various processes such as onboarding, load booking, execution, payments, and asset maintenance.
By adhering to the guidelines set forth in this partnership, Waabi and Uber Freight are working towards revolutionizing the autonomous trucking industry, bringing about a future where the seamless integration of AI-powered technology and efficient logistics operations become the norm.
