Loblaw to deploy 50 Gatik autonomous trucks
Loblaw is rolling out an additional 50 autonomous trucks built by Gatik to serve regional distribution networks in the Toronto area.
The multi-year deal begins with the deployment of 20 autonomous trucks equipped with Gatik’s next-generation sensor suite, which will be on the road by the end of this year. Another 30 trucks will be deployed by the end of 2026, Gatik said in a release.
The Canadian autonomous truck maker says this represents the largest planned rollout of autonomous trucks in North America. Initially, the trucks will operate with safety drivers on board, before transitioning to freight-only (driverless) operations serving more than 300 stores.
“This is a transformational moment, not just for Gatik and Loblaw, but for the autonomous trucking sector globally,” said Gautam Narang, CEO and co-founder of Gatik.
“It’s the first time a major retailer has transitioned from pilot to commercial scale with autonomous trucks, directly addressing Canada’s growing driver shortage, delivering the true benefits of autonomous logistics — reliability, safety and scalability — to millions of Canadians.”
“This expanded partnership with and investment in Gatik represents a significant step forward in our commitment to innovation and supply chain sustainability,” added Rob Wiebe, chief administrator of Loblaw Companies. “Autonomous logistics will enable us to move more orders more frequently for our customers. We are excited to continue leading the way nationally in retail distribution with Gatik’s groundbreaking technology, which has already been proven across our operations.”
The trucks will be equipped with the Gatik Driver artificial intelligence-powered system. Some of the trucks will support refrigerated loads.
Gatik and Loblaw have worked with Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation through the Automated Commercial Motor Vehicle pilot program launched Aug. 1. The program allows for the use of Gatik’s Classes 6 and 7 autonomous trucks on all surface streets and highways in the province.
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I am sure many will say it is the way of the future, but I do not want to see a driverless truck on a crowded roadway at any time. I just do not trust these systems! There is way too much at stake as far as i am concerned with public safety being at the top.
And what will happen during a major snow storm?
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The thing lots of truck drivers are looking for work this will just cause more homeless truck drivers that can not support a family . If 9000 trucks in Ontario do this because some trucks are slipped seated are we going to find jobs and retrain 12 000 drivers for other jobs and who is going to pay for this retraining and this will cause traffic delays in bad weather?
I have some concerns about safety of these units once the driver is no longer in the units . As for the shortage of truck drivers in am seeing truck drivers with a second job as taxi drivers and night time security or working in homeless shelter or part time construction because of lack of work available as truck or bus drivers at this time. I think the fact that a truck driver can not afford the mortgage and support his family without a second job is the only reason truck drivers are doing other things. If trucks prove safe i think when are run without a truck driver a special tax of 1.4vtimes the min wage should go into a special fund to provide a fund to provide for both disabled truck drivers and the cost of paying upto $700 per week for bus and truck drivers that are looking for work when truck drivers can not find work that volunteer 40 hours per week with a approval of certain nonprofit or places like school and nursing homes or helping fix up low income people living units. THIS should not be a way to lower costs when the number of truck drivers drops from over 30 000 to less than 5000 looking for work and a truck drivers wage is 4 times the rent of a 3 bedroom unit with 1 parking space the special tax should drop to $5 hr per unit on the road in my opinion.