Hirschbach plans 500 autonomous trucks with Aurora to scale refrigerated freight capacity
Key takeaways
- Hirschbach plans to scale refrigerated capacity with 500 autonomous trucks and improve long-haul efficiency.
- Hybrid networks pair driverless long hauls with driver routes, improving retention and home time.
- Aurora’s DaaS model helps fleets control assets while reducing costs and boosting uptime.
Aurora Innovation recently expanded its partnership with Hirschbach Motor Lines, outlining plans for the carrier to scale to 500 Aurora Driver-powered trucks. The company, which develops autonomous driving technology for freight transportation, is working with Hirschbach under a memorandum of understanding that lays the groundwork for final commercial agreements later this year.
The planned deployment would allow Hirschbach to scale operations across its national network, targeting 500 million driverless miles. As a leader in refrigerated freight, Hirschbach plans to apply autonomous capacity to temperature-controlled lanes where consistency and uptime are critical.
Hirschbach plans to operate a hybrid network in which autonomous trucks handle long-haul routes, allowing human drivers to focus on shorter hauls that support improved home time and operational flexibility.
Delivery of the trucks is expected to begin in 2027, with the carrier subscribing to Aurora’s Driver as a Service (DaaS) model, enabling asset ownership while leveraging Aurora’s autonomous technology.
"The Aurora Driver will provide consistent 24/7 service to our customers, making it an important growth lever for our business,” Richard Stocking, CEO of Hirschbach Motor Lines, stated. “But autonomy isn't just a business move—it’s a quality-of-life investment for our people. The Aurora Driver will handle the lengthier, less desirable routes, providing our drivers with greater flexibility. It’s a win-win.”
