Ascend Reserves Spot in Volvo’s Hub-to-Hub Autonomous Lane – Fleet Administration

Ascend will grow to be one of many first asset-based truckload carriers to order capability for Volvo Autonomous Options’ hub-to-hub autonomous transportation providing.

Beneath the partnership, Ascend Devoted — the agency’s latest division — will decide up buyer hundreds and transport them to V.A.S. hubs in Dallas and Houston, Texas.  From there, V.A.S. will full the onward linehaul motion to its vacation spot hub from which Ascend drivers will transport hundreds to their last locations.

Advantages of Hub-to-Hub Autonomous Transportation

In accordance with V.A.S. Preisdent Nils Jaeger, the “autonomy holds monumental potential to remodel the transportation trade” together with by means of: 

• Further capability 
• Conserving drivers nearer to residence
• Bettering highway security 

“A lot of as we speak’s drivers search job alternatives that align with life-style elements that they prioritize, together with schedules that allow them to spend extra time with their households, improved diet loved by means of home-cooked meals, and common train,” Ascend officers mentioned. “Lengthy-haul drivers typically discover these objectives difficult to achieve whereas touring by means of the interstate freeway system for days or perhaps weeks.  Autonomous linehaul options bracketed with skilled drivers offering knowledgeable care on the origin and vacation spot ends of a cargo’s path is one doable solution to handle the wants of drivers sooner or later.”

In accordance with Ascend officers, autonomous transportation capabilities even have the potential to enhance transit time, gasoline economic system, and security. 

“Autonomous automobiles is not going to require relaxation durations as as we speak’s driver piloted automobiles, thereby enabling quicker supply schedules through 24/7 operations,” in response to the corporate. “Moreover, laptop guided synchronization and optimization of car operation allows efficiency beneficial properties not beforehand doable that are anticipated to enhance gasoline effectivity. Lastly, security is arguably probably the most thrilling frontier for autonomous transportation and definitely the world of biggest improvement.”

By working with V.A.S. and supporting the real-world improvement of this expertise, Ascend seeks to speed up the development of autonomous driving expertise.  Central to that is guaranteeing automobiles have complete capabilities to securely function of their meant operational area and for the foreseeable future all automobiles operated autonomously have a professional driver on board, Ascend officers mentioned. 

Ascend’s Integration of Devoted Transportation Options

Ascend Devoted constructed upon the inspiration of Devoted Transportation Options, which was acquired in 2022.

“We’re excited to provoke the combination of DTS into Ascend as we search to develop our devoted contract carriage enterprise,” Ascend CEO Michael McLary mentioned.  “[Ascend Dedicated President Scott] Stowers, the founding father of DTS, and his employees carry very important expertise and creativity to Ascend’s development and innovation plans, as exemplified by this new partnership with Volvo.”