PepsiCo Deploys 35 Driverless Trucks in Arizona: What This Means for Shippers

PepsiCo has quietly reached a major milestone in supply chain automation.

The company is now operating 35 fully driverless trucks on public roads in Arizona — making it the first major U.S. consumer-goods company to deploy autonomous trucks at this scale in real-world operations.

The Details

PepsiCo’s autonomous fleet, powered by technology from Gatik, handles short-haul routes transporting snacks and beverages between bottling plants, distribution centers, and major retail locations including Walmart and Dollar General.

The program began with safety drivers in 2022 and transitioned to fully driverless operations in June 2025. According to reports, the trucks have logged significant mileage with zero accidents on public roads. PepsiCo is also running additional trucks in Texas (5) and Arkansas (1), with plans to expand the program further for more short-haul routes.

Why This Matters for Shippers

This is a significant step forward in the commercialization of autonomous trucking. While many companies are still testing or using vehicles with human safety drivers, PepsiCo’s large-scale deployment shows that driverless technology is moving from pilot programs into actual day-to-day operations — at least in certain geographies and for shorter routes.

Key implications for shippers and logistics teams:

• Cost Efficiency: Reduced driver costs and higher utilization rates could eventually lower transportation expenses on eligible lanes.

• Reliability: Autonomous trucks can operate more consistently without hours-of-service limitations.

• Capacity: This technology could help ease chronic driver shortages, especially on repetitive short-haul routes.

• Safety Record: Early results appear promising, though scalability and regulatory approval remain key hurdles.

Gain Consulting Perspective

PepsiCo’s move signals that autonomous trucking is no longer just a futuristic concept — it’s becoming an operational reality for forward-thinking companies. While widespread adoption across long-haul routes is still years away, short-haul and middle-mile applications are accelerating faster than many expected.

For shippers, this raises important strategic questions:

• Which parts of your network are suitable for autonomous solutions?

• How should you prepare your carrier strategy for a future with more driverless capacity?

• What contractual protections or performance metrics should you build in?

At Gain Consulting, we help shippers stay ahead of these emerging technologies. Whether it’s evaluating autonomous-ready carriers, optimizing your network for new capacity models, or building resilient transportation strategies that account for rapid innovation, our team delivers practical guidance tailored to today’s evolving freight market.

Curious how autonomous trucking could impact your supply chain?

Contact Gain Consulting for a transportation strategy review. We’ll help you understand what these developments mean for your costs, service levels, and competitive advantage.

Source: Industry reports on PepsiCo’s autonomous trucking deployment with Gatik