Automated Trucks Should Be Built in a Factory

Automated trucks promise to solve the trucking industry's most pressing challenges, from acute driver shortages to rising operational costs, but only if they're built the right way. Most autonomous vehicle developers have taken a retrofit approach, adding sensors and computing systems to existing production trucks. But as the industry scales beyond pilot programs, this strategy is showing critical weaknesses in reliability, service coverage, and warranty support. Telemetry's latest whitepaper reveals why the winning approach requires deep integration with established truck manufacturers from day one. Drawing on analysis of current market leaders like PlusAI, Aurora, and Waabi, this report examines the hardware and software requirements for safe automated trucking, the business models that make economic sense, and why startups that go it alone face an uphill battle against those partnering with OEMs who already have nationwide dealer networks and century-old production expertise.