Goodyear is to form a strategic relationship with TuSimple, a global autonomous trucking technology company, to provide tires and tire management solutions to the latter’s Autonomous Freight Network (AFN).
As part of the collaboration, Goodyear will provide products and repair services to enhance the safety and operation of autonomous trucks. Additionally, the two companies will conduct wear studies designed to understand how autonomous trucks and tires can help better predict maintenance, understand tire longevity and reduce the carbon impact of fleets. Collected data from the study should also deliver insights into the difference between an autonomous and human driver with respect to the tires.
According to Erin Spring, director, new ventures, Goodyear, “With our leadership in products, fleet support and advanced innovations, Goodyear is applying knowledge to help deliver performance and safety with autonomous vehicles.”
TuSimple launched the AFN in July with the goal to provide reliable low-cost freight transportation throughout the lower 48 US states through the use of Level 4 autonomous trucks.
“Autonomous trucks offer game-changing advantages for both shippers and fleets,” explained Robert Brown, senior director external affairs, TuSimple. “One of the most powerful advantages is the increased capacity, which comes as a result of the fact autonomous trucks can operate nearly continuously, and with this dramatic increase in truck utilizations comes the need to better understand predictive maintenance requirements.”