Komatsu announced it commissioned the 1,000th autonomous ultra-class haul truck equipped with the company’s FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage System. The 930E-5AT joins the fleet at Barrick’s Nevada Gold Mines (NGM). The 930E ultra-class EDT is Komatsu’s most widely deployed autonomous model, with more than 500 units at operating mine sites today. Komatsu said customers using FrontRunner “have collectively moved over 11.5 billion metric tons (mt) of material, demonstrating the scale, reliability and productivity of autonomous haulage across some of the world’s most demanding mining environments.” The company also makes autonomous water trucks. Autonomous haul trucks equipped with FrontRunner have delivered safety and productivity benefits at NGM, Barrick said. “FrontRunner has elevated both the quality of work for our people and the way we meet production goals at our Nevada operations,” said CEO Mark Hill. “By transitioning operators away from haulage activities and enabling more predictable operations, autonomy supports safer, more skilled roles while helping us use energy more efficiently and reduce our environmental footprint.” The milestone furthers to the company’s tradition of setting precedents. Roughly a year ago, at Boliden’s Aitik mine in Gällivare, Sweden, Komatsu commissioned and began trialing an autonomous, power-agnostic, electric-drive haul truck that connects to a trolley line, an industry first. Komatsu said it was the first to market with a commercial autonomous truck in 2008. Now it is reportedly the first OEM to commission 1,000 autonomous ultra-class haul trucks worldwide, described by Komatsu leadership as a defining moment. “It reflects nearly two decades of innovation, collaboration with our customers and a relentless focus on creating real operational value,” said Peter Salditt, CEO, Komatsu Mining Corp. “We are incredibly proud of this milestone, and even more excited about what lies ahead as we continue to advance autonomous, electrified and software-defined solutions that help our customers operate more
May 27, 2026 · via e-mj.com
The BUILD America 250 Act, introduced in the House last week, would reauthorize federal surface transportation programs for highways, bridges, transit, rail, safety, and related transportation programs. For fleets and clean transportation stakeholders, two provisions stand out: a proposed federal registration fee structure for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and a new federal framework for automated driving system-equipped commercial motor vehicles operating in interstate commerce. While the bill is broad in scope, these two sections could have direct implications for the economics and regulatory certainty surrounding advanced vehicle deployment. New Federal Fees Could Change the EV Cost Equation Section 1129 of the bill would establish a federal annual registration fee of $130 for covered electric vehicles and $35 for covered plug-in hybrid vehicles. Beginning in 2029, the Federal Highway Administration administrator would increase those amounts by $5 every two years, with the EV fee capped at $150 and the plug-in hybrid fee capped at $50. The fees would terminate on October 1, 2036. For fleets evaluating EVs and plug-in hybrids, the provision adds another factor to total cost of ownership calculations. Even though the proposed annual fees are relatively small compared with vehicle acquisition, fuel, maintenance, and charging costs, they signal a broader policy shift: EVs and plug-in hybrids would be brought more directly into the federal roadway funding system. The bill directs state motor vehicle departments to incorporate the fees into vehicle registration and renewal processes, or receive approval for an alternate collection method. States would remit the collected fees monthly to the FHWA, and the bill includes a withholding mechanism for states that do not comply. The provision is also limited in an important way. The bill defines a “covered motor vehicle” in a way that excludes covered farm vehicles and commercial motor vehicles, as those terms are
May 26, 2026 · via act-news.com
Key statistics As of last trade Kodiak AI Inc (V7U:FRA) traded at 6.35, -15.93% below its post-IPO high of 7.55, set on May 08, 2026. 52-week range Short selling activityProvided by S&P Global Market Intelligence | Open | 6.36 | |---|---| | High | 6.36 | | Low | 6.35 | | Bid | 6.36 | | Offer | 6.76 | | Previous close | 6.66 | | Average volume | 1.21k | |---|---| | Shares outstanding | 183.85m | | Free float | 106.28m | | P/E (TTM) | -- | | Market cap | 1.43bn USD | | EPS (TTM) | -2.41 USD | Data delayed at least 15 minutes, as of May 27 2026 09:20 BST. More ▼ Announcements - Kodiak AI Issues Statement on BUILD America 250 Act Bill Supporting Autonomous Trucks - Kodiak AI and General Dynamics Land Systems Form Strategic Collaboration For Autonomous Ground Vehicles - Kodiak AI Launches International Autonomous Trucking Operations and Enters Logging Industry - Kodiak Begins Hauling Freight Autonomously With Roehl Transport - Kodiak AI Reports First Quarter 2026 Results; Announces $100 Million PIPE Financing - Bosch and Kodiak AI Execute Toward Scaled Production of Autonomous Trucking Hardware - Kodiak AI Names Tim Guin and Natalie Draisin To Industry Advisory Council - Kodiak to Report First Quarter 2026 Results on May 7, 2026 - Kodiak AI Expands Autonomous Trucking Beyond the Sunbelt with Demonstrations in Ohio and Indiana - Epirus, General Dynamics Land Systems and Kodiak AI Unveil New Autonomous HPM System for Counter-UAS More ▼
May 26, 2026 · via markets.ft.com
Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide has returned to the Roland-Garros tennis tournament in Paris for a third consecutive year with its autonomous Robobus service, operated in partnership with Renault Group. The shuttle runs from 24 May to 7 June, with French operator Beti handling on-ground operations this year. The Robobus operates along a 2.8 km route with a 12-minute journey time, connecting three stops along Avenue de la Porte d’Auteuil that run through the stadium complex. Daily operating hours span 10:30 to 17:00, 18:00 to 20:00 and 22:00 to midnight, marking a second year of night-time operations. WeRide said Europe is a key market in its global expansion, with active deployments across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Slovakia. Its Robobus is in regular commercial operation in Belgium and has removed the front-row safety driver at Zurich Airport, a step toward fully driverless operations. The WeRide-Renault partnership has also expanded over the past year. In March 2025, the partners launched a fully driverless Robobus service in France’s Drôme region and a pilot service in Barcelona, which WeRide said was Spain’s first public-road trial of a Level 4 autonomous vehicle for passenger transport. Driverless Robotaxi services are also set to launch in Furttal, Switzerland, while WeRide has announced its entry into Slovakia as part of what it described as Europe’s first large-scale, multi-product autonomous driving deployment. Source: WeRide
May 26, 2026 · via automotiveworld.com
Scania has demonstrated bi-directional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging for heavy-duty trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), in what the Traton-owned Swedish manufacturer called one of the world’s first heavy-commercial V2G implementations on the megawatt-class standard. The set-up reached up to 1,000 A and 750 kW. The technology lets battery-electric trucks discharge energy to the power grid as well as charge from it, enabling services such as peak shaving, balancing and energy storage. Scania said this could turn parked fleets into mobile battery capacity for local grids. The system uses real-time communication between truck, charger and energy management platforms, allowing charging and discharging to be dynamically controlled based on transport needs and grid conditions. MCS is the new ultra-fast charging standard for heavy commercial vehicles. Tobias Ejderhamn, Global Manager for Transformation and New Business at Scania, said: “Electric trucks will not only consume electricity, they can also become an active resource in the energy system. This shift transforms the fleet operator’s role from solely providing transport to also offering energy flexibility.” Yorben Muller, Product Manager for Charging at Traton, said combining MCS with intelligent energy management lets the truck, charger and energy system communicate in real time. Scania said the technology is initially expected to be most relevant in depot operations, where vehicles park longer. Source: Scania
May 26, 2026 · via automotiveworld.com
Hino Trucks recently introduced its new Le Series battery-electric medium-duty truck, available in 25,950-pound (L6e) and 33,000-pound (L7e) GVWR configurations. Powered by Accelera’s Integrated e-Axle 14Xe Gen 4.5, the Le Series delivers 260 kW / 348 hp of peak power and 180 kW / 241 hp continuous power through an integrated two-speed automatic transmission and axle. Energy is supplied by the Hexagon Purus ProPack Battery System with Panasonic Energy lithium-ion battery cells rated at 269 kWh and up to 750 volts. DC fast charging (CCS Type 1 /120 kW) enables from zero to 80% state-of-charge in approximately 1.8 hours. Features of Hino's Electric Le Truck The Le's advanced electrical system supports high energy efficiency and optimized range. Programmable regenerative braking and improved weight distribution further enhance overall performance, according to the company. Drivers benefit from smooth, responsive electric torque and quiet operation, contributing to reduced fatigue and improved driving comfort. For body builders, the clear back-of-cab design simplifies upfitting across a range of applications. The Le Series also comes standard with an automatic emergency braking system and lane departure warning system. Production is scheduled to begin in the third quarter. Part of Hino's Broader Goals “Introducing the Le Series is an important step in our efforts to reduce environmental impact and support our customers’ sustainability goals,” said Rodney Shaffer, Vice President, National Accounts & Zero Emission Vehicles of Hino Trucks. “We’ve focused on delivering a solution that builds on our proven platform and is well-suited for the applications where electric vehicles make the most sense, helping fleets take practical and meaningful steps toward lower emissions.”
May 26, 2026 · via truckinginfo.com
Fair Use [17 U.S.C. § 107] AI-imagined autonomous electric island ferry for logistics only. By EVWorld.com Si Editorial Team When we discuss the future of electromobility, the conversation almost universally defaults to land-bound transport or the far-off promise of zero-emission aviation. We map out charging corridors for trucks, debate the timelines of autonomous passenger cars, and track battery density milestones for sub-compact vehicles. Yet, we routinely overlook a geographical reality: a massive portion of the global population does not live on interconnected grid networks, but on islands. Globally, there are roughly 11,000 permanently inhabited islands, home to an estimated 730 million people. From the sprawling, fractured archipelagos of Southeast Asia to the tight clusters of the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and the rugged fjords of Northern Europe, these communities face a shared, compounding crisis. They are utterly dependent on external logistics for high-value goods, medical supplies, fresh food, and e-commerce. Currently, that lifeline is maintained by slow, inefficient, heavily polluting diesel displacement barges or prohibitively expensive air freight. The physics of traditional watercraft have long kept these communities trapped in an economic bottleneck. Pushing a standard hull through water requires immense energy, making battery-electric variants heavy and short-ranged. However, by marrying advanced hydrofoil technology—which lifts the hull out of the water to slash hydrodynamic drag by up to eighty percent—with cutting-edge autonomous frameworks, we are on the precipice of establishing a zero-emission Blue Highway. The primary obstacle to this maritime revolution has historically not been a lack of engineering capability, but a lack of legal certainty. Operating an uncrewed commercial cargo vessel across territorial waters was a regulatory nightmare. That changed fundamentally this year. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has formally adopted the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code. This historic framework establishes rigorous, globally standardized safety criteria,
May 26, 2026 · via evworld.com
At the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in early May 2026, exhibitors showed off the latest electric and autonomous truck technology, EV charging systems and more.
At the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in early May 2026, exhibitors showed off the latest electric and autonomous truck technology, EV charging systems and more.
May 26, 2026 · via truckinginfo.com
J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights released its sixth annual State of Fleet Management study, which shows a growing shift toward proactive fleet management strategies. The study found that fleet managers are increasingly focused on prevention, early detection, and real-time visibility as they address safety, compliance, and operational challenges. J. J. Keller said the findings reflect how fleets are balancing regulatory complexity, cost pressure, and day-to-day operational demands. Fleet Managers Focus on Early Intervention According to J. J. Keller, key concerns among fleet managers include preventive maintenance, regulatory changes, driver qualification, compliance visibility, and identifying repair needs before breakdowns or incidents occur. The study identified several priority areas for fleet managers: - Managing preventive maintenance to avoid breakdowns or accidents - Staying current on changing regulations - Ensuring training results in qualified, compliant drivers - Identifying driver noncompliance quickly - Finding repair needs before breakdowns or incidents “Fleets are shifting from reacting to issues to preventing them,” said Daren Hansen, senior compliance expert at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. “With tighter margins and higher risk, there’s a clear focus on catching problems early, whether that’s identifying non-compliant drivers or addressing maintenance needs before they lead to breakdowns or violations.” Compliance Moves Beyond Recordkeeping J. J. Keller said the study also shows compliance shifting beyond documentation toward real-time awareness and action. While accurate recordkeeping remains important, fleet managers are placing more emphasis on visibility into driver performance, regulatory impact, and daily operations. The report also found that the role remains challenging. Two-thirds of fleet managers described their jobs as very or moderately challenging, citing regulatory changes, hiring and retention, documentation, and maintenance as ongoing pressures. “Small gaps in compliance, training, or maintenance can quickly turn into major issues,” Hansen said. “A structured safety and compliance program helps fleets stay
May 26, 2026 · via fleetequipmentmag.com
Netherlands sends over 60 pickup trucks to Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces The Netherlands has delivered more than 60 Toyota Hilux pickup trucks and unmanned systems to Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine, which can be used for reconnaissance, evacuation, logistics, mine detection and autonomous missions. As reported by Ukrinform, Simon Wouda, Head of Taskforce Ukraine at the Dutch Defence Ministry, said that the vehicles had been purchased from civilian industry and repainted in military colours before being transferred to Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces to provide mobility for units operating both strike and interceptor drones. He added that the shipment was only part of a larger aid package that had already been delivered and would continue to be supplied. Wouda stressed that what mattered was what Ukrainian soldiers received today because they were fighting right now. He added that speed was crucial and emphasised that the Netherlands was not simply supplying weapons but delivering capabilities. According to Wouda, whenever a weapons system was transferred, it came with spare parts, ammunition, documentation translated into Ukrainian and, if necessary, training. Representatives of Milrem Robotics, High Eye and Acecore Technologies were also present during the shipment and demonstrated equipment purchased by the Dutch Defence Ministry for Ukrainian troops. These systems are already being used for reconnaissance, evacuation, logistics, mine detection and autonomous missions. The Dutch Defence Ministry stressed that unmanned technologies have become one of the key factors in modern warfare and that supporting Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces is a strategic direction of bilateral cooperation. Earlier, the Netherlands announced it would provide F-16 Fighting Falcon flight simulators for training Ukrainian pilots. Ukraine has also said it expects training for Ukrainian pilots on Gripen fighter jets to begin later this year.
May 26, 2026 · via eurointegration.com.ua
- Zeron's cumulative sales in the first four months of 2026 reached five times the level of the same period last year. - Zeron turned operating cash flow positive in the fourth quarter of 2025. Chinese electric heavy-duty truck startup Zeron announced Tuesday the completion of a $200 million Series B2 funding round to double down on its autonomous driving truck business. Investors in this round include Zijin Mining, Shandong Energy Group's Yankuang Capital, and Sanhua Holding Group, while international capital participation includes Temasek and InnoVen Capital. The addition of industrial capital will drive Zeron's business expansion in core scenarios such as mining transportation and industrial logistics, it said. Meanwhile, the participation of international capital reflects global investors' sustained interest in China's autonomous driving industry. This is the second large-scale financing completed by the company in just two months, marking a continued bet by long-term capital on the intelligent transformation of China's commercial vehicles, the company said. Combined with the 1.2 billion yuan ($176 million) financing completed in March this year, Zeron's cumulative financing over the past two months has reached about $400 million. With the completion of the financing and the rapid advancement of its business, the company is entering a new phase of its development cycle. To date, Zeron's shareholder roster has brought together multiple top-tier industrial and long-term capital partners. This includes previous investors such as CATL's Puquan Capital, Nio Capital, and autonomous driving company Momenta. Zeron was founded in 2022 by Huang Zehua, a former co-founder of TuSimple. Its executive team also includes Zhang Hongsong, former general manager of Sany Heavy Truck. The company aims to provide a reliable foundation for high-level autonomous driving systems through the vertical integration of hardware and software. Alongside its rapid business development, Zeron's operating conditions are also improving. The company
May 26, 2026 · via cnevpost.com
ARLYX autonomous underground material handling: design and retrofit notes for mines Reviewed by Tom Sullivan First reported on International Mining – News 30 Second Briefing Canadian company ARLYX Technologies has unveiled what it calls the first complete, fully electric autonomous material-handling system purpose-built for underground mines, developed over two years in Quebec and trialled under production conditions at a Tier 1 operation. The package integrates battery-electric haul units with autonomous navigation and loading, targeting fully driverless tramming and transfer between drawpoints, orepasses and crushers. A public technology demonstration is scheduled at the Mining Transformed event from 25–27 May 2026, giving operators a chance to assess retrofit potential and infrastructure requirements. Technical Brief - System architecture appears modular, allowing haul units to be swapped or scaled without redesigning mine layouts. - Battery-electric configuration removes diesel exhaust constraints, potentially relaxing ventilation design and fan duty in headings. - Autonomous tramming between drawpoints and crushers implies precise localisation in GPS-denied headings, likely using LIDAR and beacons. - Purpose-built underground design suggests low-profile chassis and tight turning radii for narrow drifts and crosscuts. - Integration focus is on end-to-end material flow automation, not just isolated autonomous trucks or loaders. - Retrofit emphasis means compatibility with existing orepasses and crusher inlets, avoiding major civil modifications. - For other underground mining operations, such systems could shift bottlenecks from haulage to crushing or hoisting capacity. Our Take For underground operators in Europe pursuing low-emission ‘green fleets’ such as Boliden’s copper, nickel and zinc operations, a complete autonomous material handling package from a Quebec developer could be a near-term bolt-on to electrified fleets rather than a full fleet replacement decision. Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team. Related Articles Related Industries &
May 26, 2026 · via geomechanics.io
Autonomous driving is waiting for its ChatGPT moment. In the new wave of AI, the autonomous driving track has long been closely watched by the market. The movements of Tesla, a leading player, are one of the hot topics. Tesla officially announced on May 21, 2026, that its supervised version of the Full-Self Driving (FSD) autonomous driving system has been approved to enter the Chinese market. It should be noted that since July 2025, domestic intelligent driving systems have remained at the assisted driving stage, and policies prohibit car brands from randomly promoting autonomous driving functions. Relatedly, Tesla China's official website adjusted the Chinese name of its FSD to "Tesla Assisted Driving" on May 24, 2026. This is the first time Tesla has officially announced that its advanced assisted driving function has entered the Chinese mainland market. This progress has intensified market competition, pushing the focus of industry competition from the marketing competition of hardware parameters to the real optimization of user experience, and may accelerate the evolution of domestic intelligent driving competition towards software payment and higher-level intelligent driving. The upsurge of many industry players rushing to go public has also sparked heated discussions. On May 20, 2026, Unisound Technology, a provider of autonomous driving solutions, officially listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Before that, Momenta, Qingzhou Zhihang, and Yuanrong Qixing were all reported to have submitted listing materials to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Autonomous driving has many sub - fields. For example, in terms of carrying objects, there is a distinction between carrying passengers and goods, and in terms of implementation scenarios, there is a difference between closed roads and open roads. Autonomous trucks in ports and mining areas, as well as Unisound Technology's business focusing on specific areas such as airports,
May 26, 2026 · via eu.36kr.com
Gasgoo Munich- On May 26, Chinese new energy heavy-truck company ZERON announced the completion of a $200 million Series B2 financing round. The latest fundraising comes only two months after the company closed its previous financing round in March. Image source: ZERON Including an earlier 1.2-billion-yuan raise, ZERON has secured a cumulative total of roughly $400 million in fresh capital over the past two months. The financing round attracted a broad mix of industrial, international, and domestic financial investors. Strategic backers include Zijin Mining, Yankuang Capital under Shandong Energy Group, Sanhua Group, and a leading Chinese consumer goods enterprise. Global investment participation came from Temasek and InnoVen Capital, while local investment firms included Gaocheng Capital, SparkEdge Capital, longcapital, Ondine Capital, Hua Capital Oriza, and Aurahonorfund, among others. ZERON said the continued inflow of capital and rapid business expansion signal the company's transition into a new phase of development. According to the company, the participation of both industrial and international investors is expected to strengthen its capabilities in supply-chain collaboration, commercial deployment, and overseas market expansion. ZERON said the addition of industrial shareholders such as Yankuang Capital, Zijin Mining, and Sanhua Group will help accelerate commercial collaboration in key operating environments including mining transportation, industrial logistics, and bulk cargo delivery. The company also described the participation of global long-term investors as a sign of sustained international confidence in China's new energy heavy-truck and autonomous driving sectors. Going forward, ZERON plans to deepen its international partnerships and expand access to global industrial resources. ZERON's shareholder base now includes major industrial and long-term capital partners such as CATL, Zijin Mining, Shandong Energy Group, Temasek, and leading Chinese consumer brands. The network spans sectors including traditional energy, new energy technologies, mining, consumer industries, and international finance. Over the past year, ZERON's new energy heavy-truck
May 26, 2026 · via autonews.gasgoo.com
Trucking Announcements: Wessels named CFO at Torc; VPs hired at Di-Mond, Harbor Logistics Each week, trucknews.com lists notable events, promotions and awards in the trucking industry. This week, Torc Robotics named Tobias Wessels its chief financial officer (CFO) and Phillips 66 appointed Greg Hayes as lead independent director. Di-Mond Trailers and Truck Bodies has hired Dave Steane vice president of sales, while Harbor Logistics welcomed two new members to its leadership team, adding Park Williams as senior vice president of sales, and Jeff Martin as vice president of transportation. Torc Robotics names Wessels as CFO Torc Robotics has named Tobias Wessels as CFO as the company continues preparing for commercial deployment of Level 4 autonomous trucks in the U.S., according to a news release. He brings more than 20 years of financial and operational leadership experience across the autonomous vehicle, AI and technology sectors. Before joining Torc, Wessels served as chief development officer at Helm.ai, where he oversaw finance, corporate development and international expansion efforts, including partnerships with Volkswagen Group. He also previously served as chief corporate development officer at autonomous delivery company Udelv and earlier worked as CFO of X, Alphabet’s moonshot development division, where he helped support projects that later evolved into Waymo. “Tobias brings a rare combination of deep technical understanding and financial rigor, shaped by experience at the forefront of autonomy and AI,” said Peter Vaughan Schmidt, CEO of Torc. “As we continue to scale our operations, his leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our financial strategy, enhancing operational discipline, and positioning Torc for long-term success.” Phillips 66 appoints lead independent director Greg Hayes has been appointed as lead independent director of Phillips 66’s board of directors, the company announced after the retirement of Glenn Tilton and Marna Whittington from the board. Hayes succeeds Tilton, who
May 25, 2026 · via trucknews.com
Behind Tesla's FSD entry into China, Momenta, DeepRoute.ai and others are "racing against time" There is a new story in the autonomous driving industry. On May 20th, as Unisound Technology (1511.HK) was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, one of the earliest domestic companies to deploy L4 autonomous driving has become the latest example in China's autonomous driving IPO wave. The listing of Unisound Technology is also regarded by many industry insiders as an important signal that the industry has truly entered the capitalization cycle. Just one day later, another piece of news quickly stirred up the intelligent driving industry: on May 21st, Tesla announced that its supervised version of FSD would be launched in the Chinese market. Source: Screenshot from the X platform On one hand, Chinese intelligent driving companies are collectively rushing into the capital market; on the other hand, the world's strongest autonomous driving player is penetrating the Chinese market. To some extent, it seems like two industry stages have converged at the same time. 01. Race among Intelligent Driving Companies for IPO As the fastest - moving company in this intelligent driving IPO wave, the uniqueness of Unisound Technology lies in that it is not a typical NOA supplier for passenger cars. Compared with players like Momenta, DeepRoute - AI, and Qingzhou Zhihang, which mainly focus on the mass - production route of urban NOA, Unisound Technology has long focused on the implementation of L4 autonomous driving in closed or semi - closed scenarios such as airports, factory areas, ports, logistics, and urban shuttles. It is not telling a story of "advanced driver assistance", but a story of "full - scenario L4 commercialization". To some extent, Unisound Technology is trying to prove to the capital market that L4 autonomous driving is
May 25, 2026 · via eu.36kr.com
South Africa is now officially the world's largest citrus exporter, and it's companies like the FPT Group, operator of private port terminals at Durban, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), and Cape Town, that make the last leg happen. Recent floods have caused major disruptions in the Eastern and Western regions, which might affect the export volumes out of those areas. "We're still waiting for producers to tell us what the impact will be on the forecast of fruit. It's a difficult one," remarks Paulo Franco, managing director of the FPT Group. © FPT Group FPT terminal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal The FPT Group has just had its lease renewed by TNPA - Transnet National Ports Authority to continue operating the Durban terminal, prolonging its lease to 2047. All of South Africa's conventional shipping (reefer vessels) is loaded at FPT terminals. "Our Durban facility is now over 30 years old, and we need more efficiency. We need better cooling, faster cooling, and improved processing of the fruit so that we can improve on all deficiencies cost-wise. New cooling technologies are a lot more efficient and quicker, which is better for the product," he explains, adding that they are introducing a high degree of automation into the process. Starting towards the end of the current citrus season, every single office and building at Durban FPT is due to be rebuilt, Franco says. "We're going to do a full refurbishment of the facility, with modern equipment, all new cold rooms, all new cooling facilities. Everything that you see inside the building will disappear, and modern state-of-the-art equipment will be installed." Franco continues: "We're also putting a lot of investment in AI for our own warehouse management system. It's a long conversation as far as AI is concerned," he observes, "but we're putting quite some money behind that
May 25, 2026 · via freshplaza.com
Volvo Trucks North America invited us to its New River Valley plant to test the all-new Volvo VNR in the place where it is built. The drive included two courses: a highway loop and a mock city route designed to test how the truck handles on regional routes, tight turns, loading docks, and rough pavement. One of the clearest differences came from Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS). With the system off, bumps and uneven surfaces moved heavily through the steering wheel and cab. With VDS on, the wheel stayed more controlled, helping reduce steering kickback from road impacts, potholes, tire events, and crosswinds. Tight Spaces, Driver Feedback The urban course highlighted another focus area: maneuverability. Working through cones and container setups, the VNR’s short hood and visibility made tight turns more manageable. According to Magnus Koeck, VP of strategy, marketing, and brand management at VTNA—that capability reflects direct driver input. “When we develop trucks in general with this new platform, we always take lots of input from drivers,” Koeck said. “Probably 3,000 drivers have helped in one time or another.” Safety and Visibility in Real Conditions That same visibility plays into the truck’s broader safety systems. Volvo said the VNR integrates active safety features with improved driver awareness, including systems that monitor surrounding vehicles and pedestrians. Volvo said many safety features now come standard, including a side curtain airbag designed to better protect drivers in a crash. The VNR we drove also featured Volvo’s Camera Monitor System, which helped during a backing test into a tight dock setup. Efficiency Still Drives the Conversation Beyond handling and safety, Volvo framed the VNR around operating cost, connectivity, and uptime. “We’re continuing that segment, regional haul and urban distribution, with a truck that is significantly more fuel efficient, significantly better connected with connectivity and
May 25, 2026 · via fleetequipmentmag.com
Dalmia Cement to Acquire 5.2 MnTPA Capacity Dalmia Cement (Bharat), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat, has executed a Business Transfer Agreement with Jaiprakash Associates and Adani Infra (India) to acquire cement assets with 5.2 MnTPA capacity in the Central region.The acquisition covers cement plants located at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, and Churk, Chunar and Sadwa in Uttar Pradesh. The assets include 5.2 MnTPA cement capacity, 3.3 MnTPA clinker capacity, 99 MW thermal power capacity, railway sidings at Rewa and Chunar, and a common railway siding at Churk. The enterprise value of the transaction is Rs 28.5 billion.Following co.. Rampura Agucha Becomes Zinc Mark Certified Mine Hindustan Zinc’s Rampura Agucha Mine has become India’s first Zinc Mark certified mine, marking a major milestone in responsible zinc production. The mine is the world’s largest underground zinc-lead mine and is operated by Hindustan Zinc, the world’s largest integrated zinc producer.Zinc Mark is a globally recognised assurance framework that validates responsible zinc production against international Environmental, Social and Governance standards, responsible sourcing practices and value chain transparency. The certification strengthens Hindustan Zinc’s ability to offer responsibly .. Headsup B2B Targets Rs 4 bn Revenue This Fiscal Headsup B2B, a pan-India procurement and supply chain platform serving the infrastructure, industrial and renewable energy sectors, is targeting Rs 4 billion in revenue for the current fiscal year. The company executed over 2,200 transactions worth Rs 2.5 billion in the previous financial year.Allied infrastructure services contributed nearly 80 per cent of revenue during the period, while renewable energy, industrial automation and road safety solutions emerged as the fastest-growing categories. The company is now expanding its role beyond procurement to support installation, deployment and p..
May 25, 2026 · via constructionworld.in
IMO Approves Landmark Global Framework for Autonomous Shipping The International Maritime Organization has approved the world’s first international rules designed specifically for autonomous commercial vessels, marking a major breakthrough in the future of maritime transport. Read also: IMO Closes Regulatory Loophole on False Flagging in Shipping The newly adopted framework — known as the International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS Code) — was finalized this week during the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee meeting in London. The move places the global shipping regulator at the center of efforts to manage rapidly advancing autonomous vessel technology while balancing innovation with safety and accountability. The new code establishes an international structure for ships operating with different levels of automation, from vessels using advanced decision-support systems to fully autonomous ships capable of operating without onboard human involvement. The shipping industry has been moving steadily toward automation in recent years, with pilot projects involving remotely operated and semi-autonomous vessels already underway in parts of Europe and Asia, particularly on shorter coastal and port routes. IMO officials described the adoption as a major milestone for maritime regulation, saying the framework is intended to support emerging technologies while ensuring that safety standards and human oversight remain central to shipping operations. The code is the result of several years of regulatory review by the IMO, which began studying how existing maritime laws would apply to autonomous shipping back in 2021. That review examined major international conventions covering navigation safety, crew training, liability, search and rescue responsibilities, and ship operations under different levels of automation. One of the biggest challenges has been determining how traditional maritime roles apply in an autonomous environment — including the legal responsibilities of a ship’s master, shore-based remote operators, and technology providers. The MASS Code also addresses key operational issues
May 25, 2026 · via globaltrademag.com