Autonomous trucking start-up Starsky Robotics is recruiting truck drivers to remotely operate commercial trucks in addition to the company’s 36 trucks that are driven by humans.
“Driving trucks is extremely tough and so is finding the right drivers to be a part of this unique opportunity,” says Starsky Robotics Founder and CEO Stefan Seltz-Axmacher. “We’re able to get to know our drivers over the course of a few months to see if they have what it takes to advance into being a safety driver and eventually into a tele-op driver.”
In an effort to improve the work-life balance of truck drivers, the company hires traditional drivers with the goal of moving them into remote driver role once it’s clear the vehicle will be safely operated by the autonomous vehicle in tandem with the trained driver who won’t need to be physically behind the wheel. The remote driver will be especially important for controlling the first and last mile of the route.
