Swedish freight technology company Einride has begun employment of human remote pod operators for autonomous vehicles in freight haulage. The company argues that employing human remote pod operators shifts how humans function with an increasingly automated freight industry, and provides a stronger safety case that is scalable from day one for automated shipping fleets.

Human remote pod operators will observe and support an Einride Pod that is operating in automated drive mode to ensure they run optimally and safely as they ship goods on behalf of Einride’s customers. Given the pods’ autonomous capabilities, the operators will not drive the vehicles but instead will be able to provide operational support to multiple pods at a time via their Automated Driving Systems. This will help create further efficiency that will allow for increased autonomy. In contrast to conventional trucking, remote operation will be safer, involve more regular hours, and provide a more hospitable work environment for operators.

“As we continue to scale our autonomous and electric solutions, we knew that we also needed to look at the jobs that are required to support safe and scalable implementation and we saw a market gap for this kind of role,” said Robert Falck, CEO and Founder at Einride. “We believe that going autonomous does not equate to losing the human element. We believe the opposite, that tech is stronger with the human element still in the loop and we are dedicated to creating a safer rollout of our autonomous and electric technology with this remote operation approach.”

“When I came across the opportunity to partner with Einride in this new role, I saw that this was one of the biggest steps I could play a part in in creating a better and more sustainable future for the next generation and the planet,” said Tiffany Heathcott, first remote pod operator at Einride. “Once other truck drivers are able to see what the remote approach to shipping can do for them, both on a professional and personal level, I’m confident that more and more will want to take part in creating lasting change.”

The team of remote operators has already expanded behind Heathcott and will continue to scale alongside growing autonomous operations Einride is providing customers both in the US and in Sweden. Following the official US expansion in November of 2021, Einride has opened up a regional office in Austin, with plans to officially establish a US headquarters in New York. Regional offices in the Bay Area and Los Angeles will open later in 2022.