Aurora, an autonomous vehicle technology startup, has announced a multiphase commercial pilot with Uber’s online freight matching solution Uber Freight, to haul goods in Texas and integrate Uber Freight's shipping platform within Aurora Horizon (trucking product suite).

The pilot will maximize truck utilization and give shippers access to a larger pool of carriers to haul local route legs. 

Earlier this month, Aurora began hauling drop-and-hook loads for Uber Freight customers between terminals in Dallas and Houston. The company plans to launch commercial autonomous trucking by the end of 2023, which then enables subscribed shippers to reserve autonomous trucks through the Uber Freight platform.

Uber Freight provides a mobile application that connects truck drivers with shipping companies across the US and Canada. The company operates a carrier network of 70,000, available around the clock, offering live shipment tracking and fast quote generation facilities for shippers. For carriers, it offers smart load suggestions, rating, and reviews of shipping facilities, mobile proof of delivery (POD) submission, etc. The company serves both full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) markets.