• Embark Trucks (Embark), an autonomous truck manufacturer, has partnered with fleet management solutions provider Ryder System to launch a network of up to 100 nationwide freight transfer points over the next five years, providing service and maintenance facilities to Embark’s customers.

• These transfer points will be strategically located in areas where the freight is moved from human-operated first-mile delivery to autonomous long-haul and then back to human-operated last-mile delivery. The companies will first launch the facilities in California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida with plans to start operations in early 2022. The commercial launch is planned for 2024.

• The services provided by Ryder System include managing the logistical yard operations, pre- and post-trip inspections, and providing maintenance services and autonomous hardware for the vehicles.

• This partnership adds to its transfer point model initiated in 2019 with two sites in Los Angeles and Phoenix. 

<ul><li>Embark’s rivals Waymo (in August ) and TuSimple’s (in July) have also partnered with Ryder System in the past to launch maintenance and service facilities for their respective autonomous truck fleets.</ul>