The next time you’re driving down the highway, it’s possible you might see a self-driving truck.

Waymo, the self-driving unit of Google parent Alphabet, next week launches a pilot program in Atlanta to use a self-driving truck for deliveries to Google's data center. There will be drivers in the cabs "to monitor systems and take control if needed," the company said.

Could they be the future of transportation?

The company has already put self-driving technology onto trucks for testing in California and Arizona over the past year, but Atlanta as a major logistics hub is the "perfect environment for our next phase of testing Waymo's self-driving trucks," the company said -- prompting a welcome message from Gov. Nathan Deal. Waymo said it believes self-driving technology could make trucking safer.

MYAJC.COM: REAL JOURNALISM. REAL LOCAL IMPACT.

AJC Business reporter Kelly Yamanouchi keeps you updated on the latest news about Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Delta Air Lines and the airline industry in metro Atlanta and beyond. You'll find more on myAJC.com, including these stories:

Never miss a minute of what's happening in local business news. Subscribe to myAJC.com.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Protesters gather outside of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Featured

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (right) tours the Vine City neighborhood with his senior advisor Courtney English (left). (Matt Reynolds/AJC 2024)

Credit: Matt Reynolds