TuSimple Inc, an artificial intelligence enterprise in Lin-gang Special Area, began work on the world's first driverless freight network in the US on July 2.

Companies such as United Parcel Service Inc, Penske Corporation, U.S. Xpress, and McLane are providing technical solutions, supply chains, logistics, transportation and other services for the network.

Over the next year, they will provide transportation services between six American cities - Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. They will then gradually expand driverless cargo transport services between Los Angeles and Jacksonville, linking the east and west coasts of the US. By 2024, they plan to expand driverless freight to 48 US states.

TuSimple's planned driverless freight network in the US [Photo/ WeChat account: shlgguanweihui]

TuSimple Inc was established in Beijing in 2015, and set up a research and development center at the same time. It moved its headquarters from Beijing to Lin-gang in 2018, and obtained China's first self-driving truck test license.

The policy advantages of Lin-gang and the rich AI application resources in Shanghai have created a strong environment for the firm to develop various innovative businesses.

The commercialization of TuSimple's driverless technology began last year, and the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak this year has sped up the application of driverless technology in freight delivery.

As of now, TuSimple has already offered commercial driverless transportation on seven different routes between Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso and Dallas.

According to Lv Cheng, CEO of TuSimple, the company's ultimate goal is to build a driverless transportation network with real-time tracking capabilities that can connect hundreds of cities.

TuSimple tests its driverless technology on Donghai Bridge in Lin-gang Special Area. [Photo/ WeChat account: shlgguanweihui]

The Lin-gang company has also explored the commercial application of driverless technology in Shanghai.

TuSimple began to explore the multimodal transport mode applied in the main urban area of Lin-gang, the logistics park, Donghai Bridge, Luchaogang central station in April 2019. As of June 2020, its test mileage in Lin-gang Special Area and Donghai Bridge has amounted to 51,968 kilometers, and has obtained test open road test licenses for five driverless trucks.