Big news out of Dallas, Texas, which is slowly becoming the mecca of automation, as Gatik lands another contract for their Class 6 B2B automated delivery trucks. Pitney Bowes, the global shipping and mailing firm, has signed a deal to have some of its inner-city routes augmented with self-driving delivery trucks.
Walmart, Georgia-Pacific, now Pitney Bowes…
Gatik is slowly developing into a recognized name in automated delivery vehicles with another developmental partnership. Pitney Bowes plans to use the Gatik Class 6 box trucks with their 24,000 gross vehicle weight rating to move goods between Dallas-Fort Worth warehouses.
The trucks will supplement five routes connecting distribution centers, so called “middle-mile deliveries,” beginning in 2023. Safety drivers will be onboard to monitor truck behavior and develop the driving routine.
Gatik estimates a 30% savings for Pitney Bowes if they use the technology at full-scale. One has to wonder if the 30% is the saving of removing the truck drivers from employment.
Gatik generated around $85 billion in a Series-B funding round last year. The company claims that it can reach profitability if they have two trucks operating at a site-specific level.
