Shipper J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo announced on Thursday a collaboration on self-driving freight in Texas for one of J.B. Hunt’s top customers.

Using Level 4 autonomous driving technology, Waymo’s Class 8 trucking unit will haul freight along Interstate 45 between facilities in Houston and Fort Worth. Two autonomous specialists — a CDL driver and a software technician — will monitor operations during trial runs. 

“This will be one of the first opportunities for J.B. Hunt to receive data and feedback on customer freight moved with a Class 8 tractor operating at this level of autonomy,” said Craig Harper, the trucking company's executive vice president and chief sustainability officer. “While we believe there will be a need for highly skilled, professional drivers for many years to come, it is important for J.B. Hunt as an industry leader to be involved early in the development of advanced autonomous technologies and driving systems to ensure that their implementation will improve efficiency while enhancing safety.”

J.B. Hunt is the largest trucking company in the U.S.