[EuraCarCar] "Freight Before People"... Autonomous Driving's First Profits Come From Trucks

Hanjin Launches Korea's First Paid Autonomous Freight Truck Service
118km Route from Gunsan Port to Daejeon Mega Hub, Three Times a Week
Mars Auto Building Logistics Network with Hyundai Mobis and LX Pantos

Driver Shortage Accelerates A

Autonomous driving technology is finally starting to become a "profitable technology." Contrary to initial expectations that focused on robotaxis, the stage is now set for large trucks transporting long-haul cargo.

In South Korea, Hanjin has launched the country’s first paid transportation service using autonomous trucks, while in the United States, Pepsi has deployed Level 4 autonomous trucks with empty driver’s seats in its actual logistics network. Autonomous driving, which had remained at the stage of technical demonstrations and government pilot projects, has now entered the commercialization phase, transporting real cargo and generating revenue.

Hanjin has launched South Korea's first paid transportation service using autonomous trucks. The photo shows the operation of a 25-ton autonomous truck. Photo by Hanjin

First Commercial Transport in Korea... "Moving Beyond Pilots to Revenue Generation"

According to the industry on July 11, Hanjin recently received approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for paid autonomous cargo transportation, and began operating a 25-ton autonomous truck on an approximately 118-kilometer route connecting Gunsan Port, Jeonju Delivery Terminal, and the Daejeon Mega Hub.

The autonomous driving system was supplied by the startup RideFlux. Although a professional safety officer is seated in the driver’s seat, this is the first commercial operation of an autonomous cargo truck in South Korea to actually transport parcels for a fare. Since revenue was generated through a real logistics contract, rather than a government pilot project, this is seen as a significant turning point for the domestic autonomous driving industry.

Another autonomous trucking startup, Mars Auto, will also launch paid autonomous trailer transport connecting Busan Port and a logistics center in the third quarter of this year. It plans to start with three vehicles and expand to ten vehicles by the end of the year. In the long term, Mars Auto is working to build a Korea-U.S. autonomous logistics network, connecting Busan Port to the Port of Long Beach in the U.S., and on to Hyundai Motor’s Georgia Metaplant. Mars Auto began paid autonomous transport in 2023 with partners including Emart and Lotte Global Logistics, and is currently operating a total of eight routes in Korea and three routes in the U.S.

In partnership with LX Pantos, Mars Auto is already operating a transcontinental autonomous cargo route in the U.S. spanning over 7,000 kilometers round trip. Recently, it has succeeded in reducing empty return rates by transporting Hyundai Mobis auto parts and building materials from Korean manufacturers on round trips. Mars Auto plans to increase its current fleet of 265 data collection vehicles to over 1,000 by next year, and aims to expand to 10,000 vehicles across Korea and the U.S. in the long term.

No Jaekyung, Deputy CEO of Mars Auto, explained, "Unlike passenger cars, large trucks have an adoption rate of less than 1% for driver assistance systems. In the U.S., long-haul transport often involves driving straight for 13 hours before making a right turn, so there is strong interest in this kind of solution in the local market."

Robotaxis Stall... Trucks Move Forward

The reason autonomous trucks are being commercialized first is due to their economic and technological suitability.

Passenger vehicle autonomy must constantly interpret numerous variables in real time, such as urban pedestrians, cyclists, traffic signals, and construction zones. In the event of an accident, there are also disputes over liability between manufacturers and drivers.

In contrast, cargo transport mostly runs on highways and major thoroughfares with repetitive routes. Since the driving environment is relatively simple, it is easier to apply autonomous systems, and AI-based steady-speed driving can reduce fuel consumption. The high frequency of long-distance operations also means higher vehicle utilization rates.

Above all, the chronic shortage of truck drivers is accelerating the adoption of autonomous driving. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) estimates that the U.S. currently faces a shortage of about 78,000 truck drivers. If this trend continues, it is projected that the shortage will exceed 160,000 by 2031.

The situation is much the same in South Korea. According to the "2025 Korean Cargo Transport Market Survey" by the Korea Transport Institute and the Cargo Welfare Foundation, the average age of small cargo truck drivers in 2025 is expected to be 65.5 years, while for medium-sized truck drivers it will be 63.0 years. Even as e-commerce expands and freight volumes steadily increase, the influx of younger drivers is shrinking, intensifying the industry’s manpower shortage.

The industry believes that autonomous driving will serve to supplement, rather than replace, existing drivers. Autonomous driving systems will handle long-haul trunk routes, while human drivers will focus on tasks that require a person, such as loading and unloading, entering and exiting logistics centers, and responding to unexpected situations.

Autonomous driving truck operated by the autonomous driving startup Gatik. Gatik YouTube

From Pepsi to Aurora... The Global "Robotruck" Race

In the United States, autonomous truck competition has already entered full commercialization.

One representative example is Pepsi. Pepsi, in collaboration with the autonomous driving startup Gatik, has deployed 35 Level 4 autonomous trucks in Arizona to transport snacks and beverages from factories to warehouses and retail stores within its actual supply chain. After several years of validating the technology with a safety driver on board, the company switched to fully unmanned operations last year. Pepsi reports that the trucks have operated without incident to date and have achieved an on-time arrival rate of 99%.

Aurora Innovation is considered the leading autonomous trucking company. Founded by developers from Google Waymo, Uber, and Tesla, Aurora began fully unmanned autonomous freight services in Texas this year. It is targeting the long-haul U.S. logistics market through partnerships with FedEx, Uber Freight, Hershey, and others. Over a three-year pilot program, Aurora completed about 280,000 miles (approximately 450,000 kilometers) and delivered 1,400 shipments with a 100% on-time delivery rate.

Automakers are also jumping into the race to secure market share. Tesla has started mass production of its large electric truck "Semi," and in the long term, plans to build an unmanned logistics network incorporating Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. Daimler Truck, Volvo, and Traton Group are likewise expanding their development of autonomous platforms and partnerships with logistics companies to capture the market.

According to market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global autonomous truck market is expected to grow from USD 42.91 billion in 2025 to USD 46.58 billion in 2026, and then to expand to USD 107.7 billion by 2034.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.