In order to increase freight capacity and driver support, DHL Supply Chain uses Volvo's autonomous technology to introduce self-driving trucks in Texas.

Self-driving semi-trucks are being used by DHL Supply Chain to transport cargo across Texas roadways. The company's initial routes are from Dallas to Houston and Fort Worth to El Paso.

Volvo's VNL autonomous vehicles will be used by the corporation; each truck will have a human safety driver inside the cab to keep an eye on performance. The trucks, which began moving cargo for DHL Supply Chain on December 4, are outfitted with hardware and software from Aurora, a firm that specializes in autonomous vehicle technology. They also have redundancy systems that take over the vehicle automatically in the event that the primary systems malfunction. In the past, Aurora has collaborated with PACCAR to develop autonomous cars for the Kenworth and Peterbilt brands of the truck manufacturer.

Jim Monkmeyer, president of transportation for DHL Supply Chain, said the company's objective is to have the autonomous trucks lessen the physical and emotional strain on drivers and provide new possibilities for employees, such as fleet management and remote vehicle monitoring, in a joint statement with Volvo. Sasko Cuklev, head of on-road solutions at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, also emphasized the possibility of expanding freight capacity because of the trucks' round-the-clock operation.