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AVI-SPL Launches Autonomous Freight Service on Dallas-Houston Corridor

Technology solutions provider AVI-SPL began commercial autonomous freight operations between Dallas and Houston the week of June 8, 2026. The deployment marks a shift toward addressing industry-wide driver retention challenges. The company partnered with Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Aurora Innovation to automate the 239-mile route using Volvo's VNL Autonomous semi truck paired with Aurora's transportation management system. Jeremy Codiroli, vice president of global supply chain at AVI-SPL, characterized the deployment as a risk management strategy targeting workforce pressures expected over the next three to five years. The Volvo VNL Autonomous features redundant systems across steering, braking, communication, computation, power management, energy storage and vehicle motion management. Safety observers currently remain aboard the vehicles during operations. Volvo assembled the truck at its New River Valley facility in Dublin, Virginia, the company's largest manufacturing plant worldwide.