Springdale, Arkansas, USA: Tyson Foods, working with Gatik AI, is using autonomous refrigerated trucks in Northwest Arkansas. The trucks will operate 18 hours a day, delivering to Tyson’s warehouses in the Rogers and Springdale, Arkansas areas.
The deployment will introduce Gatik trucks with commercial-grade autonomous technology to the Tyson supply chain, operating on predetermined short-haul, repeated routes from plant to warehouses.
Several trucks with the potential for future expansion at other Tyson locations will be used. The trucks have 26-foot temperature-controlled boxes. A safety driver will initially be present in the cab to monitor the autonomous system and take command of operating the truck if required.
“At Tyson Foods, we are innovating and using automation throughout our business, including in transportation,” said Patrick Simmons, vice president of transportation, Tyson Foods. “This partnership allows us to strategically place our drivers where they are needed most while still reliably and safely transporting protein from the plant to distribution centres.”
“We’re excited to partner with Tyson Foods to reduce cost and complexity within their regional distribution architecture,” said Gatik chief executive, Gautam Narang. “This is a significant moment for Gatik as we introduce Class 7 autonomous box trucks into our fleet. Our partnership with Tyson is poised to drive long-term innovation and supply chain resiliency while delivering tangible, near-term value.”
The partnership is expected to provide Tyson Foods with increased asset utilisation within its short-haul logistics network, assist with inventory objectives, and support a transition to a more responsive, high-frequency approach to goods movement. Additionally, autonomous trucks operate with increased efficiency and sustainability, leading to reduced emissions and enhanced fuel economy.
