Kramer says Fernride\u2019s business model to start is transportation as a service. The startup\u2019s software suite includes tele-operated and autonomous driving as well as management software that integrates with a customer\u2019s logistics processes. As the company gets off the ground, it is starting out by employing the remote truck drivers and operating fleets on behalf of customers. In the future, Fernride will scale by training a customer\u2019s drivers to become remote operators and letting them manage their own fleet of Fernride trucks. At this point, the business model will switch to more of a SaaS model per truck per year, says Kramer.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy doing transportation as a service right now we are building the playbooks we can use to teach customers to do it themselves,\u201d said Kramer.<\/p>\n

The company claims to be cost competitive or even more affordable than traditional logistics service providers. Fernride will be able to automate more parts of the journey over time as it collects more data on how its vehicles maneuver yards on their own or with the help of a remote driver, Kramer said.<\/p>\n

Fernride is focused on scaling yard automation before moving onto more complex operational design domains (ODDs). The startup hopes to start short-haul routes on public roads with existing customers in two to three years. Before that happens, though, Fernride\u2019s technology will have to expand and improve before it leaves the yard. For one, Fernride\u2019s trucks don\u2019t drive any faster than 20 miles per hour in the yards. That minimizes the potential for accidents in this use case, but doesn\u2019t provide much utility on highways.<\/p>\n

Fernride also relies on cellular connectivity in order to keep its remote drivers in the loop. Kramer said most of Fernride\u2019s customers deploy private 4G and 5G networks in their yards, which the startup\u2019s trucks tap into. When the company moves to open roads, it won\u2019t be able to rely on remote drivers much because there will be too much latency.<\/p>\n

\u201cIdeally the vehicles will be capable of driving 95% to 99% of the journey at that point and only use the remote operator for a small portion,\u201d said Kramer.<\/p>\n

This article was updated to include more information about Fernride\u2019s business model.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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