Summary

In this episode, Julie Gates interviews Sasko Cuklev, head of on-road solutions at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, discussing the advancements and future of autonomous trucking. They explore Sasko’s long tenure at Volvo, the transformation of the trucking industry due to technology, and the importance of customer collaboration in developing autonomous solutions. The conversation also covers the operational aspects of autonomous trucking, the hub-to-hub solution, regulatory challenges, and the steps needed to scale these solutions commercially. Finally, they touch on the learnings from ongoing operations in Texas and the future milestones for Volvo’s autonomous trucking initiatives.
Takeaways

Sasko Cuklev has been with Volvo since 1994, focusing on autonomous solutions since 2015.
Volvo is implementing autonomous trucks in mining and highway trucking.
The trucking industry is undergoing a transformation due to new technologies.
Customer collaboration is key in developing autonomous solutions.
Volvo offers a full solution for autonomous transport, not just trucks.
The hub-to-hub solution involves specific terminals for autonomous trucks.
Regulatory frameworks for autonomous trucking are currently fragmented.
Safety is a top priority in developing autonomous trucks.
Scaling requires a robust digital and IT infrastructure.
Learnings from Texas operations will inform future developments. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Autonomous Trucking and Sashko Sukhlev
03:45 Sashko’s Journey and Role at Volvo
06:24 The Transformation of the Trucking Industry
09:18 Customer-Centric Development of Autonomous Solutions
11:53 Understanding the Hub-to-Hub Solution
14:31 Regulatory Framework and Its Impact
17:35 Safety and Scalability in Autonomous Transport
19:57 Learnings from Texas Operations
22:53 Future Plans for Autonomous Trucking
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