COLUMBUS, OH & INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Monday marked a major milestone for Midwest freight innovation as three trucks with automation technology hit the road between Ohio and Indiana, delivering shipments for Nussbaum Transportation. This deployment is the latest in a partnership between the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)’s DriveOhio initiative and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), aimed at accelerating the adoption of truck automation technologies and transforming the logistics industry across the region.
Ohio and Indiana have long capitalized on their geography and robust transportation networks to become leaders in logistics. Until now, most of the automated freight testing has occurred in regions with milder, more predictable climates. Looking to the future, ODOT, INDOT, and Nussbaum will evaluate the technology’s performance in a real-world Midwest environment that includes rain, snow, and everything in between. Testing in these conditions is a critical step toward ensuring vehicle automation delivers consistent safety and reliability benefits wherever it’s deployed.
“As modern vehicles increasingly integrate advanced safety features like lane-keep assist, automatic braking, and blind-spot detection, we are seeing a fundamental shift in roadway safety,” said ODOT Director Pam Boratyn. “While infrastructure engineering remains a cornerstone of our work, technology is the essential partner that will help us reach the goal of zero deaths on Ohio’s road.”
“INDOT continues to partner with DriveOhio to explore automation technology in commercial trucking here in the Crossroads of America. Features being deployed will assist the driver and represent another innovative step forward to make our highways safer,” said INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist.
The Nussbaum trucks are equipped with a suite of safety features designed to decrease the risk of collision and ease driver stress. Many functions are similar to the driver assist features in cars on the road today including automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and lane departure technology. Additional technology includes sensors capable of detecting vehicles or people on all sides of the truck. The system provides an audible warning to the driver when an object’s detected and prevents turning movements until the path is clear.
“Our drivers operate in many different environments, including adverse weather conditions, busy traffic, and road construction, and each presents unique driving challenges,” said Doug Bradle, Chief Operations Officer at Nussbaum. “We value these new technologies and how they can aid our drivers in navigating these environments safely. We want to do our part in testing and improving them.”
The automated features also include advanced blind spot technology that steers the truck back into its lane if it’s attempting to enter an occupied lane. In the unlikely event that the driver suffers a medical emergency and becomes unresponsive, the system will safely bring the truck to a stop and activate the truck’s hazard lights. Professional drivers will be in the driver’s seat of the trucks throughout the deployment, aided by the automated system.
“Truck drivers face demanding conditions every day, and our mission is to make our roads as safe as possible,” said Charles A. Jones, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent. “This technology helps prevent crashes, protect lives and reduce the risks drivers face on the road. Every life lost is one too many, and using proven safety tools is one of the most meaningful ways we can keep people safe.”
Funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, this multi-year $8.8 million project aims to deploy varying levels of automation and integrate these technologies into truck fleets’ daily freight-hauling operations. More information about these efforts is available on the Drive Ohio website.
