Cracking the code on autonomous trucking

In this episode of Catalyst, host Shayle Kann explores the challenges and opportunities in autonomous trucking with Eyal Cohen, founder and CEO of Humble Robotics. While passenger vehicle autonomy has advanced rapidly—exemplified by Waymo’s widespread deployment—autonomous trucking has lagged despite intuitive assumptions that highways would be easier than city streets. Cohen explains that the high speeds, massive weight (up to 80,000 pounds), and minimal margin for error on highways make edge cases far more dangerous than in urban environments. He traces the evolution of the industry from 2016-era efforts like Otto and Starsky Robotics, which underestimated the complexity of highway autonomy, to today’s AI-driven advancements. A key differentiator for Humble is starting with a clean-sheet design: building a cab-less, electric, fully autonomous Class A truck that combines tractor and trailer into a single intelligent platform. This design enables full rear visibility, automated safety features like warning triangle deployment, and better integration of multi-sensor data. Cohen emphasizes that while the technology is ready, unit economics remain a hurdle—especially with expensive sensors and the need for charging infrastructure. However, he believes electric short-haul and drayage operations are poised for growth, particularly with supportive infrastructure. The regulatory landscape is evolving, with states like Texas and California opening pathways for driverless testing, though new vehicle designs like Humble’s face unique challenges. Ultimately, the path to adoption hinges on proving cost savings and reliability in a B2B freight market where novelty won’t drive scale. Key takeaways include: 1) Highway autonomy is harder than city driving due to high speeds and low safety margins; 2) Vision Language Models (VLMs) are enabling camera-first perception, reducing reliance on expensive LiDAR; 3) A clean-sheet vehicle design—removing the cab and integrating tractor/trailer—can lower costs and improve safety; 4) Electrification and autonomy are synergistic, especially for short-haul, automated freight; 5) Regulatory progress is happening, but new vehicle forms require creative dialogue with agencies; 6) Unit economics must improve to justify higher vehicle costs; 7) Charging infrastructure is a chicken-and-egg problem, but solutions are emerging at ports and depots; 8) The future of freight lies in fully hands-off, automated systems from warehouse to destination.