Self-Driving Trucks Deliver UPS Loads Between Tucson And Phoenix

ARIZONA — With its driverless-truck depot in Tucson, San Diego-based TuSimple has been transporting cargo between Tucson and Phoenix, on behalf of new investor UPS (United Parcel Service), since May. The transport runs, called “tests,” are proceeding “very well,” a TuSimple rep told 12 News.

TuSimple began nonautonomous delivery runs for UPS last March, to learn UPS’s methods, collect data and map routes. Then daily autonomous delivery runs between Phoenix and Tucson started last May, with an engineer and driver onboard.

“While fully autonomous, driverless vehicles still have development and regulatory work ahead, we are excited by the advances in braking and other technologies that companies like TuSimple are mastering,” wrote UPS Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Scott Price.

On Tuesday UPS became a TuSimple minority shareholder. TuSimple’s autonomous trucks reduce semitruck shipping costs about 30 percent, the company says. Read more at 12 News.