Multiple trucks fitted with automated driving technology were deployed to haul commercial freight on midwestern roadways as part of a partnership between the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).
On March 9, 2026, transportation officials announced that “three trucks with automation technology hit the road between Ohio and Indiana, delivering shipments for Nussbaum Transportation” as part of the larger DriveOhio initiative.
Officials plan to study how the automated truck technology functions in “a real-world Midwest environment that includes rain, snow, and everything in between … Operating in these conditions is a critical step toward ensuring vehicle automation delivers consistent safety and reliability benefits wherever it’s deployed.”
The trucks are equipped with features including automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure technology, sensors capable of detecting vehicles or people on all sides of the truck, advanced blind spot technology, and a system that can bring the truck to a safe stop if a driver experiences a medical emergency.
A professional driver will remain in the driver’s seat throughout the deployment of the trucks.
“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 roads.”
“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.
“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.”
The purpose of the $8.8 million DriveOhio project is “accelerating the adoption of truck automation technologies and transforming the logistics industry across the region.”
See an interview with Nussbaum driver Hans Kinde about the project below.
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