Kodiak Robotics, a company specializing in self-driving trucks, and Pilot Company, which manages travel centers in North America, have jointly unveiled their first-ever truckport. This facility is situated at the Pilot travel center in Villa Rica, Georgia. Its primary purpose is to provide a base for Kodiak to initiate and conclude the journeys of its autonomous trucks. Moreover, it will serve as a central point where truck drivers can efficiently collect and deliver goods for the initial and final legs of their trips. The truckport in Villa Rica will play a crucial role in facilitating Kodiak’s extensive 18,000-mile self-driving network.
“Partnering with Pilot Company to build the Villa Rica truckport ensures that we have access to the truckport services we need, utilizing Pilot’s industry-leading travel center network,” said Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotics. “This partnership, combined with Kodiak’s flexible technology stack, enables our scalable, asset-light approach to building our truckport network. The freight lane between Dallas and Atlanta is critical to the nation’s supply chain and economy, and this truckport enables us to refine our operations model as we continue to grow.”
The recently established truckport located in Villa Rica, Georgia is set to function as an eastern satellite hub for Kodiak’s network. Meanwhile, the main hub for Kodiak’s fleet of self-driving trucks will remain at its Dallas-Fort Worth location, as indicated in a company statement. The truckport offers a range of comprehensive services, including refueling at the Pilot Travel Center, minor maintenance tasks, and pre-trip inspections. Notably, these inspections encompass Enhanced Inspections tailored specifically for self-driving trucks.
Back in August 2022, Pilot Company made a noteworthy strategic investment in Kodiak, leading to their inclusion on Kodiak’s board of directors. Both Kodiak and Pilot are actively considering expanding their presence within Pilot’s nationwide travel center network. The introduction of the Pilot Villa Rica truckport comes on the heels of Kodiak’s recent partnership announcements with various entities including Loadsmith, C.R. England, Tyson, IKEA, Werner, and Forward, among others.
