Volvo Autonomous Solutions (VAS) has marked a major breakthrough in autonomous transport, successfully hauling over one million tonnes of limestone for Brønnøy Kalk in Velfjord, Norway.
Since its deployment, the solution has logged over 220,000 kilometres—equivalent to circling the globe more than five times—while navigating a demanding five-kilometre route between the mine and crusher. Seven autonomous Volvo FH trucks, equipped with proprietary virtual driver technology, operate through steep inclines and tunnels under harsh environmental conditions.
Nils Jaeger, President of VAS, said, Hauling over a million tonne autonomously reflects how far we’ve come. This is no longer the future—it’s happening now.” Raymond Langfjord, General Manager at Brønnøy Kalk, added, “This shift has enhanced our operations across the board, and we are proud to be setting a benchmark for the industry.”
The project reached a significant milestone in 2023 by operating without a safety driver, further validating the robustness of the system. Brønnøy Kalk’s autonomous operation is powered by VAS’s Autona/earth platform—an end-to-end solution that integrates infrastructure, fleet management, training, maintenance, and operations, all delivered via a Transport as a Service (TaaS) model.
More than just autonomous trucks, the solution enables 24/7 operations with dynamic fleet management capabilities, allowing vehicle deployment based on real-time demand. Advanced data analytics and sensor feedback also unlock new possibilities for continuous optimisation.
Also Read:
Volvo CE Strengthens Safe Demolition With High-Reach Excavator Deployment In Hyderabad