Daimler Debuts First Autonomous Truck Licensed in U.S.

Courtesy Daimler AG.

The truck currently is in testing in Nevada.

While they may be years away from mainstream use, self-driving vehicles inched closer on May 5 in Las Vegas, where Daimler unveiled the Freightliner Inspiration truck.

Now in testing on Nevada highways, the 18-wheeler is the first autonomous truck licensed in the U.S. It combines collision-mitigation technology, such as radar-based adaptive cruise control and camera-based lane-keeping control, to provide an autopilot mode the driver can engage.

Not to be confused with a driverless truck, Inspiration cannot pass, merge or perform other complex maneuvers on its own, but Freightliner hopes to reduce driver fatigue, accidents and fuel consumption during long highway trips.

After a short stint as a freelance contributor to ENR, Tudor joined the editorial staff in 2002 and was a managing editor. His areas of expertise included construction equipment, trucks, tools, materials and global construction. He was a certified crane operator and reported heavy construction news in the U.S. and outside—including Europe, Dubai, India and China.

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