Uber’s self-driving trucks are now delivering freight in Arizona. However, it is limited to the highways but they are not allowed to drive on local roads.
By using transfer hubs, Uber pointed out that the use of robot trucks will add more jobs, at least in the short term. How?
For security reasons, Uber’s self-driving trucks are not yet fully automated when providing delivery services. Uber considered that the best way to go to the final destination is that a driver will still be sitting in the truck while the vehicle is driving on the highway. This method is using a transfer hub model in which the truck drives autonomously on the highway. The human driver will then drive over for the last miles.
Since Uber’s self-driving trucks are currently only traveling on the highways, the goods they carry need to be transferred. The goods will arrive at the transfer station first. The autopilot truck is only responsible for the transportation on the highway, and then the goods are handed over to the drivers at the transfer station. The driver of the transfer station then transports them to the final destination.
Similar to Uber’s current Car-hailing business, Uber also launched the Uber Freight application for the autopilot truck business. Users with cargo transportation requirements can book transportation services by using this application.
It is worth noticing that Uber’s self-driving trucks have successfully passed a delivery test in October 2016. It was loaded with 50,000 cans of beer and driving for 120 miles with a payment of US$470. This time, it launched a delivery service in Arizona. It has been more than a year since the test was successfully taken.

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