Locomation is a technology company.
Locomation has raised $16.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Locomation has raised $16.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Locomation has raised $16.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Locomation's investors include Amplify.LA, Andreessen Horowitz, AV8 Ventures, Bam Ventures, B Capital Group, Bonfire Ventures, ENIAC Ventures, Fika Ventures, FundersClub, Greycroft, iNovia Capital, Kohala Ventures.
# Locomation: Autonomous Trucking Through Relay Convoys
Locomation develops autonomous trucking technology using a relay convoy system where one human driver operates a lead truck while a second driver rests in an autonomously following truck, with the vehicles periodically swapping roles[2]. The company addresses a critical inefficiency in freight transportation: the inability to maximize truck utilization within federal hours-of-service regulations. By enabling two trucks to operate for 20-22 hours per day with only one active driver at a time, Locomation's Autonomous Relay Convoy (ARC) system allows carriers to deliver double the cargo, faster, and across twice the distance compared to traditional operations[2][3].
Founded in 2018 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Locomation emerged from Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Engineering Center[5]. The company raised $17.3 million in total funding and worked with logistics partners including Wilson Logistics, PGT Trucking, and Stevens Trucking on real-world testing[1][2]. However, the company faced significant challenges: according to reports, Locomation struggled to secure additional funding amid macroeconomic headwinds and was reportedly closing operations[5]. CEO Çetin Meriçli disputed shutdown claims, stating the company had reduced non-engineering staff but continued operating 200-mile platooning runs[2].
Locomation positioned itself within the autonomous trucking sector during a period of significant industry consolidation and investor skepticism. While competitors like Embark Trucks focused on full autonomy stacks and Peloton Technology pursued truck platooning for fuel efficiency, Locomation's relay convoy model offered a middle path—automating the follower vehicle while maintaining human oversight of the lead truck[1]. This approach aligned with broader industry recognition that full autonomy faces substantial technical, regulatory, and safety hurdles.
The company's emphasis on environmental benefits and cost reduction addressed growing shipper demand for sustainable logistics solutions. Its 2021 environmental report positioned Locomation as a credible player in the emerging autonomous freight ecosystem, earning recognition as a finalist in the Pittsburgh Technology Council's Tech 50 Awards for 2022[5].
Locomation's trajectory reflects the broader challenges facing autonomous trucking startups: compelling technology and real-world validation proved insufficient to overcome funding constraints and macroeconomic pressures. The company's reported closure—despite recent demonstrations and customer partnerships—underscores how capital-intensive autonomous vehicle development remains, particularly when competing against well-funded rivals and facing investor caution around autonomous technology timelines.
The relay convoy model itself represents a pragmatic alternative to full autonomy that could resurface if the autonomous trucking market stabilizes. Locomation's core insight—that partial automation combined with regulatory compliance could unlock significant efficiency gains—remains strategically sound, even if the company itself could not sustain operations to commercialize it at scale.
Locomation has raised $16.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Seed in June 2020.