Torc Robotics’ autonomous truck technology is meeting advanced validation trials using the new generation of Freightliner Cascadias on multi-lane closed courses, the Daimler Truck subsidiary reported this week. The self-driving company is talking with fleets about implementing its technology into the supply chain this decade.
Torc’s driverless semi-truck acceptance tests were conducted at speeds up to 65 mph as the company appears on track to commercialize its autonomous on-highway freight transportation product for fleets by 2027.
“Torc is currently working with our Torc Autonomous Advisory Council and our pilot customers to further understand and refine the overall total cost of ownership in real-world operations,” CJ King, Torc’s chief technology officer, told FleetOwner. “We will continue to share meaningful implementation data through 2025.”
Torc used Daimler Truck North America’s new Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia equipped with its AV technology for the trials. King said the test semis include “fully redundant chassis and production intent compute platform and sensor suite.”
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Future fleet freight movement
King told FleetOwner that it’s not too early for potential fleet customers to begin talking with Torc and learning more about the autonomous trucking industry.
“We’re looking at all elements of adopting autonomous trucking, including workforce uptraining opportunities—Torc is currently conducting research in this area—and other opportunities to boost operations,” King said.
The company is developing new features and “operational design domain ranges while continuing to safely progress public road testing, including driver-in operations, as we build the safety artifacts for product release,” King explained. “We will continue to exercise progressive features and scenarios with driver-out on a closed course through our product acceptance in 2026.”
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Last fall, Torc Robotics announced its plans to commercialize its self-driving technology by offering Freightliner customers the option to spec the Level 4 autonomous capabilities on new Cascadias in 2027.
“There’s the autonomous truck part of this, but it takes a much broader ecosystem—all across the fleet to make sure this is actually a valuable part of the supply chain,” Andrew Culhane, Torc’s chief strategy officer, told FleetOwner during a visit to the company’s Albuquerque, New Mexico, testing center in late 2023.
While the AV trucks would operate on the middle mile—divided highways that link carrier distribution centers—Torc is developing how to integrate its robotic trucks with fleets’ transportation management systems, planners, dispatchers, depot operations, and more.
