Happy New Year 2025

Tag: Cargo

  • Big rigs deliver cargo with no humans at the wheel

    Big rigs deliver cargo with no humans at the wheel

    Are you ready to share the road with massive semi-trucks cruising down the highways next to you without a human driver? Well, that is one step closer, thanks to the groundbreaking partnership between Kodiak Robotics and Atlas Energy Solutions. These innovative companies have just pulled off something incredible. They successfully launched the first-ever commercial driverless trucking operation.

    GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE

    Driverless semi-truck (Kodiak Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    Milestone achievements

    Kodiak Robotics has become the first company globally to deliver a driverless semi-truck to a customer while also being the first to generate ongoing revenue from driverless trucks. Atlas Energy Solutions, in turn, has made history as the first customer to launch a commercial delivery operation using driverless semi-trucks.

    Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotics, tells CyberGuy, “Through this partnership, we are providing a critical service to Atlas, helping them to provide freight service in one of America’s most difficult trucking environments.”

    Big rigs deliver cargo with no humans at the wheel

    Driverless semi-truck (Kodiak Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    YOU WON’T BELIEVE HOW FAR VOLVO’S NEW ELECTRIC SEMI-TRUCK GOES ON A SINGLE CHARGE

    Operational success

    Atlas has successfully completed 100 loads of proppant sand deliveries using Kodiak RoboTrucks, establishing itself as the pioneer in making driverless deliveries with its own autonomous fleet. The operations span the 75,000 square mile Permian Basin in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, showcasing the scalability and efficiency of the technology.

    Burnette emphasized that “before launching driverless service, we completed our safety case – Kodiak’s comprehensive study that demonstrates the safety of our self-driving system – for work in the Permian Basin.”

    YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED – EXPLORING HYDROGEN-POWERED VEHICLES FOR THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION

    Big rigs deliver cargo with no humans at the wheel

    Driverless semi-truck (Kodiak Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    THE FUTURE OF TRUCKING ROLLS FORWARD IN SHELL’S EXPERIMENTAL BIG RIG

    Rapid scaling and revenue generation

    The high demand in the Permian Basin is driving rapid scaling of operations, enabling Kodiak to earn significant revenue from its RoboTrucks faster than any other autonomous truck company. This accelerated growth demonstrates the commercial viability of autonomous trucking technology.

    “We are now working to extend the safety case to highways over the course of 2025,” Burnette said. “This large-scale operation allows us to rapidly accumulate driverless experience, which will benefit our on-highway customers and contribute to the successful launch of our on-highway driverless operations. We believe we have a 12- to 18-month lead on launching driverless semi-trucks at scale.”

    Big rigs deliver cargo with no humans at the wheel

    Driverless semi-truck (Kodiak Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    TECH TURNING BIG RIGS, TRUCKS, EVEN TANKS INTO SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES

    Integrated automation strategy

    Concurrent with the RoboTruck operations, Atlas has launched the Dune Express, a 42-mile autonomous conveyor belt in the desert that delivers sand to the autonomous RoboTrucks. This integration of the RoboTrucks and the Dune Express is a key component of Atlas’ strategy to automate its entire supply chain, promising increased efficiency and safety in industrial logistics.

    Big rigs deliver cargo with no humans at the wheel

    Driverless semi-truck (Kodiak Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    What’s next?

    The autonomous trucking industry stands on the brink of a transformative era, with pioneering companies like Kodiak Robotics leading the charge toward a more efficient and technologically advanced transportation landscape.

    “We are encouraged by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s strong commitment to creating a national regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles and are confident the new administration will ensure a clear path for innovators,” Burnette said. “Ultimately, autonomous trucks will increase American competitiveness, reduce inflation, and help ensure U.S. technology leads in the 21st century. All indications suggest the industry expects the Trump administration to be favorable toward autonomous trucking. We are committed to maintaining American leadership in realizing this vision.”

    SUBSCRIBE TO KURT’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES

    Kurt’s key takeaways

    The partnership between Kodiak Robotics and Atlas Energy Solutions represents a pivotal moment in the transportation industry. By successfully deploying autonomous trucks in commercial operations, they have proven the technology’s readiness, as well as its economic viability. This breakthrough is likely to accelerate the adoption of autonomous trucking across various sectors, potentially reshaping the future of logistics and supply chain management.

    Would you feel comfortable sharing the highway with a driverless semi-truck? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

    For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

    Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

    Follow Kurt on his social channels:

    Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

    New from Kurt:

    Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

    February 3, 2025
  • Cargo theft soars to record in 2024

    Cargo theft soars to record in 2024

    Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com.

    Cargo theft hit a record high in the U.S. and Canada for the second consecutive year, and the trend is expected to continue as criminal enterprises have become more sophisticated in their methods.

    Verisk CargoNet’s annual analysis released this week found that cargo theft surged 27% from 2023 to 2024, hitting a record 3,625 reported incidents last year with an average value of $202,364 per theft. All told, the losses are estimated at more than $454 million.

    Cargo theft hit a record high in the U.S. in 2024 according to CargoNet, which expects the trend to continue. (CargoNet / FOXBusiness)

    The study found California and Texas saw the greatest surge in theft activity, with heists jumping 33% in the Golden State and an eye-popping 39% in the Lone Star State.

    Trailer burglaries and full trailer theft continued at elevated levels, particularly in major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and New York City, according to the findings. Dallas County, Texas, led with a 78% spike in reported incidents. Los Angeles County, California – traditionally a high-activity area – saw a 50% increase.

    RETAIL THEFT SURGES 93% SINCE BEFORE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: ‘RETAILERS HAVE NOT BEEN CRYING WOLF’

    CargoNet reported notable shifts in the type of goods stolen last year, too. While 2023 saw frequent theft of engine oils, fluids, solar energy products and energy drinks, 2024 marked a strategic pivot by criminal enterprises. New targets included raw and finished copper products, consumer electronics and cryptocurrency mining hardware.

    trucking

    Cargo theft surged to another record high in 2024. (iStock / iStock)

     The analysis also revealed increased targeting of specific consumable goods, including produce like avocados and nuts, along with personal care products ranging from cosmetics to vitamins and supplements, especially protein powder. 

    EXPERT WARNS A ‘HUGE PROBLEM’ IS LOOMING FOR THE US ECONOMY

    CargoNet Vice President Keith Lewis explained in an interview that there are two major types of cargo theft: The first is the traditional method of thieves stealing directly from a truck or train, and the other method is through fraud, which often involves manipulating online shipping exchanges to redirect entire loads using false information like fake companies.

    He said that cargo theft – often conducted by criminal enterprises overseas – is up by a staggering 1,445%, while traditional theft is up by around 20%. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, he explained, cargo theft overall is up by some 90%.

    PANAMA-CANAL-INAUGURATION-ANNIVERSARY

    A cargo ship and tugboat sail through the Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, in Panama, on August 12, 2024. Lewis says one rising method of cargo theft involves criminals redirecting shipments using fraud. (Arnulfo Franco/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    Lewis, a former state police officer, says that federal law enforcement does not have the resources to adequately address the issue, so the burden of solving it falls back on the logistics industry to come up with solutions. 

    “But solutions cost money, and that’s the pushback,” he told FOX Business. “And also, when you change the way we’re moving freight, you slow down the supply chain. And when you slow down the supply chain, that could possibly cripple the infrastructure. It also generates a higher cost of moving goods.”

    GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

    Meanwhile, the surge in thefts is contributing to higher prices for everyone.

    “Everybody’s paying for this now,” Lewis said. “The rates go up, the insurance goes up, the costs go up, the freight rates, what I’m charging the shipper goes up. The shipper takes that and puts it back in their cost, and they raise the price, and you and I pay for it every time we make a purchase.”