Ryder System, Inc. and Kodiak Robotics, Inc. announced a collaboration to leverage Ryder's service network to enable the commercialization and scaling of Kodiak's autonomous truck solution. To start, Kodiak and Ryder established their first truckport in Houston, strategically-located at an existing Ryder fleet maintenance facility. The truckport, which opened in December, enables Kodiak to launch and land autonomous trucks as well as transfer freight to serve routes between Houston, Dallas, and Oklahoma City.

While the collaboration initially focuses on the establishment of Kodiak's Houston facility, the companies see opportunity to leverage Ryder's extensive service network to support additional truckport operations and to provide on-site technician and maintenance services. Today, Kodiak trucks operate all routes with safety drivers, including its Houston-Dallas and Houston-Ok Oklahoma City routes. The autonomous trucking company plans to introduce its first driverless operations along its Dallas-Houston route later this year, using the Ryder facility as a launch point.