Dive Brief:
- PepsiCo plans to deploy more Gatik autonomous trucks across its North American supply chain in a multi-year deal, according to a press release from the food and beverage company.
- PepsiCo has worked with Gatik since 2022 and currently operates a fleet of 41 autonomous trucks across Texas, Arizona and Arkansas, Gatik told Supply Chain Dive in an email.
- “Autonomous trucking, particularly on short, repeatable routes, has the potential to support more consistent operations and reduce variability—helping us deliver a more dependable service experience,” PepsiCo said in an email.
Dive Insight:
Deploying autonomous trucks is part of a deliberate effort by PepsiCo to modernize how products move across its transportation network, PepsiCo said.
PepsiCo’s agreement with Gatik is centered around adding capacity where needed, such as high-demand regional networks “that are hard to staff and critical to keeping shelves stocked for consumers,” the release said.
“As you can imagine, deploying driverless trucks in a supply chain as complex as PepsiCo's is a nuanced and carefully orchestrated process,” Gatik said. “Our North Star is safety, therefore, we took the necessary time to clear extensive safety assessments and integrate into PepsiCo's supply chain in a reliable and safe manner.”
Gatik’s driverless trucks can be used for end-to-end deliveries on highways and surface streets. They can also change routes when needed for complex regional logistics networks and reach hundreds of pickup and drop-off locations, per the release.
“This enables PepsiCo to modify route plans in response to daily operational needs, including adding or removing stops, responding to shifts in demand, and adapting to activity levels across distribution centers,” per the release. Such flexibility gives PepsiCo room to improve on-time performance and add capacity without changing its existing operations.
PepsiCo has been testing new fleet technologies to optimize its transport operations. Besides autonomous trucks, the company has also been electrifying its fleet.
In 2024, the CPG maker, along with Maersk and DB Schenker, announced plans to pilot a heavy-duty electric trucking corridor that was expected to go live in 2027. PepsiCo has also joined shippers such as Ikea and Microsoft to test EV trucks along the US I-10 corridor between Los Angeles and El Paso, Texas.
Last year, the company said that its EV semitrucks will spur $1 million in fuel savings.
