How to Send a Refrigerator 650 Miles in a Truck with No Driver

Want to send a refrigerator 650 miles down the road in a truck with no driver?

That’s exactly what Embark set out to do.  The company has announced a partnership with Frigidaire^®, a leading household appliance brand, and Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions, to pilot a series of automated driving technology tests.

During the pilot, Frigidaire refrigerators were successfully transported 650 miles at a time, in semi-trucks using solely automated driving technology and no driver.

Beginning in October, the pilot has involved several trips of appliances traveling through four states using Embark automated tractors on the highway segments and Ryder tractors and drivers on surface streets. The pilot focused on highway driving, which is more structured, allows for faster commercialization, and solves a critical challenge for the freight industry.

“We believe that automated transportation will play a key role in how logistics networks function in the future,” said Dennis Cooke, President, Global Fleet Management Solutions for Ryder. “Automation will ultimately improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability for our customers who count on Ryder to provide them with guidance around new technologies such as advanced driver-assistance systems.”

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