[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 Autonomous Truck Competition
Pepsi Deploys Fully Driverless Trucks... 99% On-Time Delivery Rate
Autonomous Truck Market to Reach $107.7 Billion by 2034

Autonomous driving technology is finally beginning to become a "money-making technology." Contrary to initial expectations that focused on robotaxis, it is long-haul freight trucks that are taking the lead.

In Korea, Hanjin has launched the nation's first paid transportation service using autonomous freight trucks, while in the United States, Pepsi has deployed Level 4 autonomous trucks—with no driver in the cab—into its actual logistics network. Autonomous driving, which had previously been limited to technical demonstrations and government pilot projects, has now entered the stage of commercialization by transporting real cargo and generating profits.

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

Korea's First Commercial Autonomous Truck Transport: "Moving Beyond Pilots to Real Revenue"

According to the industry on July 11, Hanjin recently received government approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to offer paid autonomous freight transportation. The company has begun operating a 25-ton autonomous freight truck over a 118-kilometer route connecting Gunsan Port, Jeonju Delivery Terminal, and the Daejeon Mega Hub.

The autonomous driving system was supplied by the startup RideFlux. While a professional safety officer is seated in the driver's seat, this marks Korea's first commercial operation where actual parcel cargo is transported and transportation fees are collected. As this revenue is being generated through a real logistics contract rather than a government pilot program, it is regarded as a significant turning point for the domestic autonomous driving industry.

Another major autonomous truck startup, Mars Auto, also plans to launch paid autonomous trailer transport between Busan Port and a logistics center in the third quarter of this year. It will start with three vehicles and expand to ten by the end of the year. In the long term, the company aims to establish a Korea-U.S. autonomous logistics network connecting Busan Port, the Port of Long Beach in the United States, and Hyundai Motor Georgia Metaplant.

Mars Auto is already operating a transcontinental autonomous freight route spanning over 7,000 kilometers round-trip in the United States in partnership with LX Pantos. Recently, the company succeeded in reducing empty return runs by carrying Hyundai Mobis automotive parts and building materials from domestic manufacturers on round trips. Mars Auto aims to expand its current data collection fleet from 265 vehicles to over 1,000 by next year, with a long-term goal of operating a fleet of 10,000 vehicles in both Korea and the United States.

No Jaekyung, Deputy CEO of Mars Auto, explained, "Unlike passenger cars, large trucks are equipped with driving assistance features in less than 1% of cases. In the U.S., there is significant interest in these solutions because long-haul transport often involves driving straight for 13 hours and then making a right turn, for example."

Robotaxis Stall, Trucks Accelerate

The reason autonomous trucks are being commercialized first is that their economic and technical characteristics are well suited to the technology.

Passenger vehicle autonomy must constantly interpret a wide range of variables in urban environments, such as pedestrians, bicycles, traffic signals, and construction zones. When an accident occurs, disputes over liability between the manufacturer and the driver often arise.

In contrast, freight transport mostly follows repeated routes along highways and arterial roads. The driving environment is relatively simple, making it easier to apply autonomous systems, and AI-based cruise control can reduce fuel consumption. The high proportion of long-distance trips also allows for higher vehicle utilization rates.

Most importantly, a chronic shortage of truck drivers is accelerating the adoption of autonomous driving. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) estimates that the U.S. is currently short about 78,000 truck drivers. If this trend continues, the shortage is expected to exceed 160,000 by 2031.

The situation is not much different in Korea. According to the "2025 Freight Transport Market Survey" by the Korea Transport Institute and the Freight Welfare Foundation, the average age of small cargo truck drivers in 2025 is projected to be 65.5 years, with medium cargo truck drivers averaging 63.0 years. Although cargo volume continues to rise with the growth of e-commerce, the influx of younger drivers is declining, leading to a worsening labor shortage in the industry.

Industry experts believe that autonomous driving will supplement the shortage of drivers rather than replace existing ones. Autonomous driving will handle long-haul transport, while drivers will focus on tasks that require human intervention, 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: Global 'Robo-Truck' Competition

In the United States, competition in autonomous trucks has already entered a full-fledged commercialization phase.

Pepsi is a leading example. Pepsi, in partnership with autonomous driving startup Gatik, has deployed 35 Level 4 autonomous trucks in Arizona, using them to deliver snacks and beverages from factories to warehouses and retail outlets. After several years of validating the technology with safety drivers on board, the company transitioned to completely unmanned operations last year. Pepsi reports it has operated without accidents to date, achieving an on-time delivery rate of 99%.

Aurora Innovation is considered the most advanced autonomous truck company. Founded by developers from Google Waymo, Uber, and Tesla, Aurora began fully driverless autonomous freight service in Texas this year. The company is targeting the U.S. long-haul logistics market through partnerships with FedEx, Uber Freight, and Hershey, among others. In a three-year pilot program, Aurora covered about 280,000 miles (about 450,000 kilometers) and delivered 1,400 shipments with 100% on-time performance.

Automakers are also joining the race to gain an early lead in the market. Tesla has begun mass production of its large electric truck "Semi" and is working toward building an unmanned logistics network incorporating Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. Daimler Truck, Volvo, and the Traton Group are also expanding the development of autonomous platforms and partnerships with logistics companies to capture market share.

The market research firm Fortune Business Insights projects that the global autonomous truck market will grow from $42.91 billion in 2025 to $46.58 billion in 2026 and reach $107.7 billion by 2034.

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