Dive Brief:
TuSimple is working with UPS Supply Chain Solutions to expand its Autonomous Freight Network and begin commercial runs to UPS North American Air Freight terminals in Orlando, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina, TuSimple announced Wednesday.

TuSimple and UPS have been partners for nearly three years, accumulating more than 160,000 autonomous miles, according to the technology maker. The autonomy system has yielded more than 13% fuel savings, compared to human drivers, “when operated in the optimal long-haul operating band from 55 to 68 miles per hour,” TuSimple said.

There are still some kinks to work out, when it comes keeping the equipment moving, TuSimple CEO Cheng Lu told Transport Dive. “Carriers, shippers — they expect very high uptime,” which is a benefit of autonomy in general, he said, as the technology isn’t beholden to human limitations. But “the truth is, we have some ways to go to make sure that uptime is … where we want it to be.”
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