Fernride

Fernride manufactures an autonomous vehicle kit that retrofits yard trucks with sensors, lidar, cameras, and software to autonomously move trailers and containers around ports, terminals, and distribution facilities. Equipped with Level 4 autonomy, the trucks can be overseen by a single remote operator who manages up to four vehicles at once, intervening when complex maneuvers or unplanned edge cases arise. Fernride’s trucks are also electric, which means they reduce environmental impact as they increase productivity and improve worker safety.

The company offers its solution as part of a comprehensive transportation-as-a-service package: For a fixed recurring fee, customers have access to Fernride’s hardware kit and software subscription, through which the company can push updates to the hardware. (Software includes the Operations Control Center, which enables operators to oversee and assist vehicles, and a Management Suite for comprehensive fleet management.) Fernride’s end-to-end solution currently includes remote drivers, which Fernride employs. Over time, the company will train its customers to become remote operators, enabling them to manage their own fleet of Fernride trucks.