The Road to Autonomy

The skyrocketing costs of commercial vehicle insurance in the trucking industry is a pressing issue that is causing economic harm. Commercial insurance premiums rose a staggering 9.8% in Q1 2024, driven by three main factors: the proliferation of nuclear verdicts over $10 million, a shortage of experienced drivers, and inflated vehicle repair costs. Nuclear verdicts, with an average of $33.8 million, have made insurance unaffordable for many smaller fleets, forcing them into bankruptcy. The current macroeconomic environment, with high inflation, rising insurance premiums, and increasing regulatory costs, is creating a “perfect storm” that could accelerate the adoption of autonomous trucks. Lee White, Founder & President of LM White Consulting joined The Road to Autonomy Founder Grayson Brulte discuss the impact insurance rates and nuclear verdicts are having on the trucking industry and why autonomous trucking could be the solution. Recorded on Friday, May 17 2024Episode Chapters0:00 Skyrocketing Commercial Insurance Costs 3:31 Nuclear Verdicts 8:54 High Insurance are Helping to Usher in Autonomous Trucking 12:23 Future of The Trucking Industry--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paul Gioupis, Founder & CEO, Zeem Solutions joined Grayson Brulte on The Autonomy Economy podcast to discuss the economics of electrifying commercial fleets and the current state of the electric commercial fleet market.As the global push for sustainability intensifies, the trucking industry faces immense pressure to transition towards zero-emission solutions. However, the path to electrification is riddled with economic challenges, regulatory and operational complexities. As society shifts to electrification, there is a growing global taxation effort underway to fill the estimated $110 billion dollar fuel tax shortfall by 2025 that is being caused by the switch to electric from oil.Paul candidly addresses the potential $110 billion fuel tax shortfall that is projected by 2025. The potential fuel tax shortfall highlights the need for solutions that strike a balance between environmental goals and economic feasibility. Drawing from his Wall Street background and a deep understanding of economics and how to scale a profitable business. Throughout the conversation, Paul discuss Zeem’s bold approach to tackling the electrification conundrum. From meticulously mapping customer demand through 1.8 million fleet phone calls, to strategically selecting locations based on origin, destination, and energy accessibility, Zeem implemented a data-driven strategy.Recognizing the software glitches and inferior products plaguing the EV market, Paul calls for a consumer-centric approach, where vehicles must stand on their own merits – delivering superior performance, range, and cost-effectiveness. He emphasizes the need for ground-up EV designs, challenging traditional OEMs to raise their game and innovate beyond mere compliance.Looking ahead, Paul envisions Zeem’s depots as future micro-grids, seamlessly integrating with the existing utility infrastructure while alleviating grid stress through distributed energy solutions. With a steadfast focus on economics, scalability, and operational excellence, Zeem is poised to lead the charge in reshaping the trucking industry’s electrified future.Recorded on Wednesday, May 8, 2024Episode Chapters0:00 Global Budget Shortfalls Caused by Electrification 3:43 Operational Efficiency of the Zeem Business8:38 Zeem’s Business Model16:57 Zeem Locations22:34 Electrification of Fleets 34:55 U.S. Highway Trust Fund37:58 Opportunities for Electrification 41:55 Key Takeaways--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aaron Ticknor, Product Manager, Large Ag Autonomy, John Deere joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss the future of autonomous tractors on farms. Farming has remained one of humanity’s most essential endeavors since the dawn of civilization. But in the 21st century, a technological revolution is transforming traditional farming — autonomy. At the forefront of this transformation is Deere & Company, an agricultural powerhouse pioneering the future of autonomous tractors. We go behind the scenes with Deere to explore their trailblazing work in autonomous tractors and what the positive impacts will be for implementing full autonomy across the farming cycle. From tilling and planting to crop management and harvesting, Deere is developing autonomous solutions that are increasing efficiency, optimizing yields, and helping farmers do more with less.We’ll dive deep into the cutting-edge technology making this possible, like advanced perception systems, artificial intelligence, robotics, and machine learning models that allow Deere tractors to navigate fields without a human operator. Deere is creating entire autonomous ecosystems, with cloud-based monitoring, control systems, data analytics, and more — providing farmers a degree of oversight, optimization and decision-making capabilities never before possible.You’ll learn how autonomous farming technology is poised to solve major challenges facing global agriculture – from labor shortages to supply chain vulnerabilities to the imperative of feeding a growing population. Deere’s autonomous solutions represent the future of feeding the world sustainably.Whether you’re a farmer, technologist, or someone passionate about world-changing innovation, this podcast offers a fascinating look at the autonomous farming revolution underway. Join us as we explore how Deere is driving this transformative shift and delivering on the promise of smarter, more productive, and more sustainable agriculture.Recorded on Wednesday May 1, 2024Episode Chapters0:00 Deere Approach to Autonomy2:33 Deploying Autonomy on Farms6:57 Deere’s Autonomous Perception System10:32 Why Deere Embraced Autonomy13:38 Deere’s Autonomy Business19:28 Autonomous Deere Tractors24:52 Future of Deere--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2019, the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) issued guidance through their AV 3.0 framework that specifically stated that going forward, federal trucking regulations from the FMCSA will no longer assume that a commercial vehicle driver must be a human present in the vehicle. This cleared the way for self-driving trucks to operate legally, as long as they comply with existing trucking regulations.Dan Goff, Director of External Affairs, Kodiak Robotics joined The Road to Autonomy Founder Grayson Brulte to discuss the current regulatory landscape for autonomous trucks in the United States.While in the long-term there will need to be new regulations crafted specifically for autonomous trucking, in the near-term, the existing rules provide a sufficient framework to begin deploying autonomous trucks in a compliant manner. Today, there are only a handful of regulations that don't neatly apply, and the industry has been working to solve those lingering issues.One key regulatory hurdle that Kodiak has worked on was developing an enhanced inspection program with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) that enables autonomous trucks to demonstrate an elevated level of vehicle safety checks compared to today's methods. Enhanced inspections have helped build confidence with law enforcement around autonomous trucking deployments.Today, 25 U.S. States have passed laws enabling and regulating autonomous vehicle deployments, further validating their legal ability to operate autonomous trucks complying with applicable regulations.While the patchwork of differing state laws is manageable currently, Dan believes eventually there will need to be a unified national regulatory framework governing autonomous trucking to enable broad interstate operations. But, the existing legal foundations for autonomous trucking deployments are in place today.Recorded on Wednesday, May 15, 2024Episode Chapters0:00 Current State of Autonomous Trucking Regulations3:28 Enhanced Inspections8:52 Evolving Autonomous Trucking Regulatory Landscape11:48 Autonomous Trucking Misconceptions--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pete Bigelow, Senior Reporter, Automotive News joined Grayson Brulte on The Autonomy Economy podcast to discuss Tesla’s robotaxi gamble and the prospects for Tesla to license FSD. In this wide-ranging conversation, Grayson and Pete dive into the bold promises and ambitious plans surrounding Tesla’s bid to launch CyberCab and a robotaxi service. As Tesla prepares to unveil more details on August 8th, they analyze what it could mean for the future of autonomy and mobility.Grayson and Pete explore whether Tesla will actually show two separate vehicle models — one with traditional controls (potentially the Model 2) and a fully autonomous version without a steering wheel or pedals. The big questions linger: When will Cybercab realistically deploy commercially? And just how good will the self-driving technology be when it is first deployed?The rise of Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions has sparked concerns about being Uber being potentially disrupted. But making the economics work with such an expensive vehicle platform remains a huge challenge. Could a Tesla subscription service bundled with incentives make a Tesla robotaxi more accessible?As the conversation evolves, Grayson and Pete also analyze the strategic options for established automakers and if they should consider licensing Tesla’s self-driving software. Or should they choose to develop their own systems with Nvidia and Qualcomm? Or pursue potential licensing agreements with Cruise, Waymo or Zoox? Zoox is interesting as the company is planning to launch service in Las Vegas which gives the company unique opportunities to embrace Vegas and create “experiences” such as mobile gambling in partnership with casinos.Ultimately, the road to Tesla deploying commercial robotaxis at scale remains riddled with technological, regulatory and business model hurdles. But with Tesla all-in on the robotaxi future, the stakes are escalating for the entire auto industry to map out its autonomy strategy.Recorded on Friday, April 26, 2024 Episode Chapters0:10 Tesla CyberCab2:20 Tesla Mobility Platform5:14 Tesla Subscription Platform19:55 Camera Only23:30 Licensing FSD35:10 Licensing Cruise, Waymo, Zoox38:39 NVIDIA & Qualcomm41:05 Zoox & Casinos --------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Josip Cesic, CEO & Co-Founder, Gideon joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss the transformation that the warehouse logistics industry is undergoing driven by an urgent need for increased efficiency and automation. Labor shortages are rampant, with younger generations showing less interest in roles such as forklift driving. Gideon’s autonomous forklifts which are deployed to load and unload trailers achieve a return on investment within 1-3 years by maintaining or increasing throughput compared to manual operations. Gideon’s compelling unit economics, combined with soaring labor costs and challenges in attracting workers, is propelling major companies such as Walmart, Loblaw, DHL, and FedEx to double down on warehouse automation.Josip explains how Gideon retrofits off-the-shelf forklifts with its autonomy kit comprising sensors including LiDAR and cameras, enabling safe and efficient autonomous trailer loading/unloading. As the technology scales, further cost reductions are anticipated through optimized computing solutions.As Gideon scales, Josip sees autonomous trailer loading/unloading as merley just the starting point, The big goal is to fundamentally reimagine the entire supply chain through autonomy. During the conversation, Josip stresses the importance of thinking several steps ahead and forming strategic partnerships, as early successes attract fierce competition in this blossoming market.Ultimately, Josip emphasizes that while robotics plays a pivotal role, the true bet is on people – adopting, driving, and benefiting from the revolutionary efficiencies that autonomous solutions will unlock across industries facing existential labor challenges.Recorded on Monday, April 15, 2024 Episode Chapters0:09 Warehouse Automation Outlook8:15 Warehouse Automation Market Evolving Over Next Decade 14:40 Gideon Autonomous Forklifts26:26 Global Autonomous Forklift Markets 31:10 Future of Gideon--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Welch, Detroit Bureau Chief, Bloomberg joined Grayson Brulte on The Autonomy Economy podcast to discuss the commercialization of autonomous vehicles and autonomous trucks. In this insightful conversation they discuss the latest developments and prospects in the autonomous vehicle, autonomous truck and electric vehicle markets. Collectively they analyzed Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi unveiling, offering perspectives on how the market might react and the challenges with Tesla achieving full self-driving.The discussion explores the competitive landscape with Waymo, Cruise, and Aurora diligently working towards commercializing autonomous vehicles and autonomous trucks. While examining the technical hurdles, regulatory environment, and investor sentiment surrounding autonomy.Looking at the broader EV market, they dissect Tesla’s recent sales dip, the arrival of more affordable EV models, and consumer readiness to embrace this shift. The conversation also touches on the struggles legacy automaker GM has faced in executing new technology ventures; Ultium batteries and their autonomous vehicle subsidiary Cruise.Overall, this podcast provides a comprehensive look at the road ahead for autonomy and electrification, marked by both immense potential and significant challenges yet to still be overcome. Both David and Grayson offer candid insights into the key players, market forces, and make-or-break factors that will shape the future of transportation.Recorded on Thursday, April 18, 2024 Episode Chapters0:11 Tesla CyberCab 3:19 Chinese AVs & EVs10:13 Investor Sentiment on Autonomy13:44 Autonomy and Defense20:07 Amazon24:13 Licensing Autonomous Driving Technology26:46 May Mobility 30:31 Cruise 36:38 GM43:12 What To Watch for in the Autonomy Markets--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Finch Fulton, Government Affairs and Policy Advisor, K&L Gates joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss the policy and labor challenges currently facing the emerging autonomy economy. As the development of autonomous trucks and vehicles gains momentum, it faces significant policy and labor hurdles. There are complicated policy issues that autonomous trucking and vehicle companies must navigate to ensure that autonomous trucks and vehicles can be deployed on America’s roads.During the conversation Finch provides an insider’s perspective on the pushback against automation, autonomous trucks and autonomous vehicles under the guise of safety concerns. He highlights how overly restrictive policies could cripple innovation and America’s competitiveness, driving commerce and jobs to other countries.The discussion also delves into the role of federal agencies like the FMCSA and NHTSA in establishing a clear regulatory framework for autonomous trucks and autonomous vehicles. Delays in key rule-makings are examined as well as what happens when nothing happens. Along with the economic impact of those non-decisions are and who ultimately benefits. When autonomous trucks are actively hauling freight on the roads of America and autonomous vehicles are common in cities around the country, America wins. The economy becomes stronger, inflation begins to subside and the roads become safer. When this happens we will begin to usher in the autonomy economy. Recorded on Wednesday, April 3, 2024Episode Chapters00:15 Election Season and Policy Implications for Automation01:31 The Electric Vehicle Market and Tesla's Influence04:58 Supply Chain Challenges and National Security Issues08:15 The Future of Autonomous Technologies and Labor20:21 Silicon Valley's Shift Towards Defense Innovation22:35 Policy Prospects for Autonomous Vehicles in Future Administrations28:41 Decoding the Politics of Safety Regulations29:47 The Stalled Progress on Automated Vehicle Safety Standards31:36 The Impact of Rulemaking Delays on Autonomous Vehicle Safety33:05 Exploring the Role of Organized Labor in Autonomous Vehicle Regulation34:01 State vs. Federal: The Battle Over Autonomous Vehicle Legislation36:52 The Future of Autonomous Vehicle Policy and Investment44:46 Navigating the Challenges of Electrification and Autonomous Trucks50:56 A Call for Common Sense in Autonomous Vehicle Policy--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dean Foreman, Chief Economist, Texas Oil & Gas Association joined Grayson Brulte on The Autonomy Economy podcast to discuss the pivotal role the oil and gas plays in the global economy. With a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, Dean provides an in-depth analysis of how geopolitical factors like the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions with Iran impact oil markets. He examines the increasing demand for natural gas, particularly from Asia and Texas’ position as one of the leading producer and exporters of oil and gas.During the conversation, Dean and Grayson explore the implications of rising interest rates and inflation on the energy sector and the broader economy, including California’s controversial electricity pricing based on household income. Additionally, Grayson and Dean discuss the U.S.’s growing national debt and how it could potentially impact the energy markets as there is an interdependence between economic growth and energy demand. This comprehensive conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the intricate dynamics of the global energy landscape and it’s profound influence on economic development.Recorded on Wednesday, April 10, 2024Episode Chapters0:11 The Impact of Geopolitics4:41 Monetary Policy Impact on Oil & Natural Gas Markets13:34 Growing Demand for Natural Gas19:24 California Energy Policy26:40 Oil & Gas Impact on the Global Economy34:02 Impact of the Growing U.S. Debt on the Economy 41:34 China Oil Imports 43:48 Things to Watch in the Oil Markets--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ira Renfrew, Chief Product Officer, Outrider joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss how Outrider is developing autonomous yard operations that improve efficiency, safety, and resiliency for warehouse operations. Outrider has developed an innovative autonomous yard truck system that can connect and disconnect trailers autonomously using their patented Trailer Connect technology. Yard automation is as an untapped opportunity for automation that Outrider correctly identified in 2017 when the company was founded by Andrew Smith.The Outrider stack was designed for mixed traffic environments in warehouse and distribution yards. One of the advancements that has been made since the company was founded is the introduce of their autonomous “glad hand” trailer connection process.By automating the entire process, Outrider is able to achieve human-level throughput for trailer moves while enabling 24/7 operation and optimization across the yard truck fleet, leading to increased efficiency. Closing out the conversation Ira discusses Outrider’s roadmap, scaling plans, the benefits of electrification when combined with autonomy at customer sites, and Outrider’s vision for fully automated supply chains enabled by AI and robotics.Recorded on Tuesday, April 2, 2024Episode Chapters0:09 The Evolving Warehouse Automation Market5:11 Increase Warehouse Efficiency with Autonomous Yard Trucks8:58 Outrider Market Positioning12:47 Outrider Tech Stack22:43 Scaling Outrider26:05 Trailer Connect28:42 Fully Automated Supply Chain--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™. The company has two businesses: The Road to Autonomy Indices, with Standard and Poor’s Dow Jones Indices as the custom calculation agent; Media, which includes The Road to Autonomy and Autonomy Economy podcasts as well as This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.