PepsiCo Scales Driverless Trucks, Boosts Supply Chain Efficiency

This initiative, built with Gatik using Isuzu Motors' medium-duty and heavy-duty box trucks equipped with cameras, radar, and lidar, follows years of testing with human safety drivers before going fully driverless in June 2025. PepsiCo reports zero accidents on public roads to date.

The company's push is driven by a hunt for reliability and lower labor costs, addressing a tightening pool of human truck drivers and their operational limitations. Gatik's strategy focuses on predictable "middle mile" repetitive short hauls, such as a 14-mile loop between a Gatorade plant and storage facility, where efficiency gains compound.

PepsiCo plans to expand these short-haul trips and locations, freeing up human delivery drivers for sales roles and filling gaps during peak seasons. Gatik has secured $600 million in multiyear contract revenue and operates over 20 trucks for Loblaw in Canada.

However, this automation raises labor concerns, with PepsiCo expecting to hire fewer drivers over time and the Teamsters union actively opposing the rollout. Regulatory uncertainty also exists, as there are no federal laws governing autonomous vehicles, and a patchwork of state rules or a single high-profile accident could impede expansion.