Ascend and Volvo Announce Autonomous Partnership
ATLANTA, GA (February 21, 2023) — Ascend LLC (Ascend) – a truckload service that provides middle-mile provide chain options — at the moment introduced a business partnership with Volvo Autonomous Options (V.A.S.). Ascend is the primary asset-based truckload service to order capability for V.A.S.’s hub-to-hub autonomous transportation providing within the first lane deliberate for operation.
“We’re excited to start testing autonomous, lengthy distance linehaul choices inside our community,” mentioned Scott Stowers, President of Ascend Devoted. “This partnership with V.A.S. intently aligns with Ascend’s continued efforts to remodel the regional truckload sector by leveraging know-how, constructing density, and providing driver-friendly routes and insurance policies, all with the objective of offering unparalleled service to our prospects.”
Ascend Devoted is the agency’s latest arm which is being constructed upon the sturdy basis of Devoted Transportation Options LLC (DTS) that was acquired final yr.
“We’re excited to provoke the mixing of DTS into Ascend as we search to develop our devoted contract carriage enterprise,” mentioned Michael McLary, CEO of Ascend. “Stowers, the founding father of DTS, and his employees convey important expertise and creativity to Ascend’s progress and innovation plans, as exemplified by this new partnership with Volvo. We’re thrilled to have them as a part of Ascend’s management group.”
“Whether or not it’s further capability, holding drivers nearer to dwelling or enhancing street security—autonomy holds huge potential to remodel the transportation trade,” says Nils Jaeger, President, Volvo Autonomous Options. “At Volvo Autonomous Options, we imagine that the best way to autonomy is thru collaboration and creation of options which might be tailored for the particular wants of our prospects. We’re excited to collaborate with Ascend to raised perceive service wants and challenges whereas bringing all the advantages of autonomy to their enterprise.”
Ascend Devoted 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 ultimate locations.
“Sooner or later, the V.A.S transportation resolution may mix the service and transit time advantages afforded by point-to-point truckload actions with the linehaul benefits of intermodal rail transportation,” mentioned McLary. “Innovating to serve the exacting necessities of our prospects’ more and more subtle provide chains whereas offering our drivers with fascinating jobs is among the inspirations behind the formation of Ascend. Exploring the usage of autonomous linehaul transportation is only one instance of how we’re searching for to attain our targets.”
A lot of at the moment’s drivers search job alternatives that align with way of life elements that they prioritize, together with schedules that allow them to spend extra time with their households, improved diet loved via home-cooked meals, and common train. Lengthy-haul drivers typically discover these targets difficult to achieve whereas touring via the interstate freeway system for days or perhaps weeks. Autonomous linehaul options bracketed with skilled drivers offering skilled care on the origin and vacation spot ends of a cargo’s path is one attainable method to deal with the wants of drivers sooner or later.
Autonomous transportation capabilities even have the potential to revolutionize truckload supply when it comes to transit time, gasoline economic system, and security. Autonomous automobiles won’t require relaxation durations as at the moment’s driver piloted automobiles, thereby enabling quicker supply schedules by way of 24/7 operations. Moreover, laptop guided synchronization and optimization of auto operation allows efficiency positive aspects not beforehand attainable that are anticipated to enhance gasoline effectivity. Lastly, security is arguably probably the most thrilling frontier for autonomous transportation and positively the realm of best growth.
By working with V.A.S. and supporting the real-world growth of this know-how, our collaboration seeks to speed up the development of autonomous driving know-how. Central to that is making certain automobiles have complete capabilities to securely function of their supposed operational area and for the foreseeable future all automobiles operated autonomously have a certified driver on board. Ascend is proud to collaborate with Volvo in advancing innovation on this enviornment.
For extra details about Ascend’s devoted transportation choices, please go to dtsolutions.internet. For common details about Ascend, please go to ascend.internet.
