Daimler Trucks gets licence for world’s first self-driving truck on public roads

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has secured a road licence for use of a self-driving heavy-duty truck on an open public highway in Nevada, US.

Freightliner Inspiration Truck is equipped with the intelligent Highway Pilot system for autonomous driving.

The inaugural trip on the truck was made by governor of Nevada Brian Sandoval and Daimler Trucks & Buses head Dr Wolfgang Bernhard on a US highway near Las Vegas.

The truck is based on the series-produced US Freightliner Cascadia Evolution model, but with the addition of the Highway Pilot technology.

Bernhard said: "Our Freightliner Inspiration Truck is the world’s first autonomous commercial vehicle to be licenced for road use.

"Our achievement here underlines yet again our role as a technological pioneer and demonstrates our consistent dedication to develop the technology for autonomous long-distance driving to series production standard."

For regular operation on public roads, the state of Nevada had licenced two Freightliner Inspiration Trucks.

Daimler Trucks North America president and CEO Martin Daum said: "After successfully introducing our Super Truck study, we again underline our technology leadership by presenting the Freightliner Inspiration Truck, which demonstrates how our society, environment and economy can benefit from autonomous driving trucks."

In the US, trucks are by far the most important means of transport and in 2012 they transported around 70% of all freight tonnage in the country.

Sandoval noted: "The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has been closely monitoring the advancements being made in autonomous vehicle development and reviewed DTNA’s safety, testing and training plans before granting permission for this demonstration of the Freightliner Inspiration Truck."

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Image: Freightliner Inspiration Truck. Photo: courtesy of Daimler.