Goodyear, TuSimple collaborate on autonomous vehicle freight operations

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has entered a strategic relationship with TuSimple to provide tires and tire management solutions to TuSimple’s Autonomous Freight Network (AFN). 

As part of this collaborative effort, Goodyear will provide products and repair services to enhance the safety and operation of autonomous trucks. Additionally, Goodyear and TuSimple 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. 

“With our leadership in products, fleet support and advanced innovations, Goodyear is applying knowledge to help deliver performance and safety with autonomous vehicles,” according to Erin Spring, Goodyear’s director of new ventures. 

Collected data from the study will also deliver insights into the difference between an autonomous and human driver with respect to the tires. 

TuSimple launched the AFN in July with the goal to provide reliable low-cost freight transportation throughout the lower 48 United States through the use of Level 4 autonomous trucks. 

“Autonomous trucks offer game-changing advantages for both shippers and fleets,” said Robert Brown, senior director of external affairs at 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.”