Olivia Hu, Uber Freight | Inside Uber Freight's Autonomous Vision

Autonomous trucks are already hauling freight. What will it take to make them a practical option for more shippers? This week, Chris Caplice continues our focus on autonomous freight with Olivia Hu, Head of Autonomous Trucking and Electrification at Uber Freight, to discuss how the company is bringing autonomous capacity into shipper networks through partnerships with Aurora and Waabi. For shippers, the question goes beyond whether a truck can drive itself. Can it meet their service requirements, fit their operations and improve the economics of moving freight? In this conversation, they cover: 🚛 How Uber Freight matches autonomous capacity to shipper needs 📍 What it will take to expand beyond today’s Texas corridors ⚡ Why autonomous and electric trucks are finding different roles in freight ⛽ The potential for fuel savings, shorter transit times and higher truck utilization 🔍 Why scaling requires more than solving the driving technology For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine Interview recorded on September 11, 2026 Freightvine Market Update recorded on October 12, 2026. Chapters 00:00 Olivia's Journey to Trucking 06:04 The Evolution of Autonomous Vehicles 07:49 Differences Between Passenger and Trucking Industries 11:08 Uber Freight's Autonomous Strategy 13:21 Partnerships in Autonomous Trucking 16:45 Operational Design Domain Explained 18:35 Future of AV and EV in Trucking 19:57 Geographical Testing of AV Trucks 23:18 Skepticism and Acceptance of Autonomous Vehicles 24:11 Shippers' Perspectives on Autonomous Capacity 25:52 Fuel Efficiency and Operational Benefits 27:48 Challenges in Shipper Adoption 29:05 The Role of Carriers in Autonomous Trucking 30:02 Ownership and Coordination of Autonomous Trucks 31:11 Future of Autonomous Fleets 32:34 Minimizing Empty Miles with AVs 33:22 Length of Haul and Capacity Needs 38:06 Current Operations and Capacity Limitations 38:53 Goals for Autonomous Miles and Capacity 40:06 Spot vs. Contract Loads for AVs 43:04 Future Predictions for Autonomous Adoption