PlusAI

Today is National Autonomous Vehicle Day. For us, autonomy is about making freight movement safer, more efficient, and more resilient. At PlusAI, we’re focused on bringing autonomous trucking into real-world freight operations through factory-built autonomous trucks with global OEM partners, helping fleets expand capacity, improve consistency, and support the drivers and operations teams who move goods every day.

McKinsey & Company’s latest report covers how AI is rewriting freight logistics, from smarter dispatching to dynamic pricing and automated documentation. The same wave is reshaping the physical layer too: how freight actually moves on the road. The US faces a shortage of over 80,000 truck drivers, while freight demand keeps growing. Autonomous trucks with AI-powered virtual drivers can keep freight moving safely on routes where drivers aren’t available. This is a structural solution to a structural problem. That’s what PlusAI is building. https://lnkd.in/gu9WgQEG

Scaling autonomous trucking takes factory-built trucks, global OEM integration, real freight operations, service networks fleets already trust. That’s why PlusAI works with TRATON GROUP (Scania Group, MAN Truck & Bus SE, International), Iveco Group, and Hyundai Motor Company to bring factory-integrated autonomous trucks to market. The goal is straightforward: bring autonomous trucks into the channels fleets already use to buy, operate, and service their vehicles.

Between running real freight with International and Ryder System, Inc. on one of the toughest lanes in Texas and seeing growing traction for HyperFoundry™, which hit $25M in contracted revenue, it’s been a busy and energizing period for PlusAI. Read on for the latest across our commercial programs, platform momentum, and key industry developments shaping the path to scaled autonomous trucking.

ACT Research Co.’s Driver Availability Index just dropped from 55 to 30 in a single quarter, the sharpest contraction since 2021. That’s a structural retention crisis. Long-haul trucking has always asked the most of drivers: the longest miles, the most time away, the hardest schedules. When drivers leave and don’t come back, freight doesn’t move. Routes go unfilled. Shippers pay more. The whole supply chain tightens.    This is one of the reasons we believe autonomous trucking matters beyond the technology itself. Drivers are part of the industry’s capacity. As long-haul routes become harder to staff consistently, the freight network needs new ways to keep the hardest miles moving. Full ACT For-Hire Trucking Index linked in the comments.

Safety is the foundation our SuperDrive™ virtual driver is built around. Every decision, every maneuver, and every mile. PlusAI Co-Founder and Chief Architect Tim Daly on the principles behind our approach to autonomous driving. 👇

We had very productive meetings this week in Japan with 株式会社T2 to continue advancing our autonomous trucking partnership. Excited for what we can do together to address Japan's logistics demands and driver shortage challenges. Thank you for the warm hospitality 株式会社T2!

At PlusAI, we know that autonomous trucking technology can move freight more efficiently and more safely, but clear, durable federal policy will enable us to maximize the scale of their full impact. With the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee releasing the BUILD AMERICA 250 Act, Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen have put forward a bipartisan, substantive framework for autonomous commercial motor vehicles. A consistent federal standard, rather than a patchwork of state-by-state rules, is what makes responsible, scalable deployment possible. The signal from the committee is clear: Congress is serious about giving autonomous trucks a durable regulatory home. We look forward to engaging with the committee and our industry partners to support the advancement of this bill as we push forward with our OEM partners like International of TRATON GROUP, Iveco Group, and Hyundai Motor Company to bring factory-built autonomous trucks to market.

“Autonomous driving can already drive a vehicle better than a human driver. The question now is: how do we deploy it widely at scale?” – David Liu, CEO and Co-Founder of PlusAI