The event is being planned and hosted by the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) at NDSU.
The benefits of autonomous trucking to the state and the challenges faced in implementing the technology will be key topics of the North Dakota Autonomous Trucking Conference to be held in Bismarck on Oct. 16-17.
The event, being planned and hosted by the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) at NDSU, will bring together stakeholders from the trucking and autonomous vehicle industries, technical experts, highway safety specialists, enforcement personnel, regulator agency staff, local and Tribal government staff and researchers to engage in dialog, exchange ideas and identify common interests and concerns.
To register for the conference or to learn more, visit the UGPTI’s website.
“It is clear that autonomous trucking will be implemented across the country,” noted UGPTI Director Denver Tolliver. “Our goal is to bring all of these stakeholders together to discuss how we employ this technology in North Dakota in a way that enhances our economy, addresses workforce issues and improves safety.”
Key topics to be addressed in depth at the conference include:
• Potential for autonomous trucking in North Dakota
• Potential business uses for autonomous trucks
• Challenges in implementing the technology
• Benefits of autonomous trucking including improved efficiency, reliability and safety
• Deployment prospects and timelines
• Market considerations
In addition, Kodiak Robotics will discuss planned deployments of autonomous trucks in hauling frac sand in the Permian Basin.
The event is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The conference is part of a two-year project to explore various deployment options, routes, and practices and to quantify the safety, regulatory, energy, environmental and economic impacts of autonomous trucking in the region.
