ArcBest Corp. of Fort Smith on Tuesday unveiled a line of autonomous forklifts and reach trucks designed to load and unload freight at warehouses, distribution centers and other facilities.
The line, called Vaux Smart Autonomy, includes two forklifts with respective capacities of 4,000 pounds and 5,000 pounds and one narrow aisle reach truck with a capacity of up to 4,500 pounds and up to 40 feet in reach.
It’s part of the logistics company’s Vaux Freight Movement System, which launched in March 2023. The system allows freight to be unloaded and loaded in minutes compared to hours under the previous methods.
ArcBest said the autonomous mobile robot (AMR) forklifts and trucks have advanced cameras and sensors to navigate facilities, find specific pallets and then unload and load them. The robots can also be operated remotely.
ArcBest is investing $175 million annually in such technology with the goal of improving supply-chain efficiency.
“As supply chains become increasingly complex, we are introducing transformational innovations to the market that help our customers achieve their financial and operational objectives,” CEO Judy McReynolds said in a statement. “Vaux Smart Autonomy will revolutionize material handling for customers, helping to optimize and unlock greater efficiencies in their warehouses, distribution centers and the overall supply chain.”
Michael Newcity, ArcBest’s chief innovation officer, said Vaux Smart Autonomy is also aimed at easing labor challenges.
“Today, businesses are facing challenges in their material handling processes, particularly when it comes to productivity, labor availability and safety,” he said. “They need a practical solution that can be implemented without significant facility or process changes. Vaux Smart Autonomy improves efficiencies, adds labor flexibility and creates a safer working environment — even for companies with complex operations that traditionally have not been able to adopt autonomous technology.”
ArcBest reported fourth-quarter net income of $48.8 million, up nearly 31% from the same period the previous year. But for the full year, profits fell 34.5%. The company posted net income of $195.4 million, compared to $298.2 million in 2022.
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