TruWeather Solutions in partnership with Hillwood, the City of Fort Worth and the North Central Texas Council of Governments, has announced the deployment of the first-ever, comprehensive, low-altitude weather data system in North Texas.
“The new strategic initiative will support the safe and reliable growth of next-generation transportation technologies, ranging from drone delivery to autonomous trucking and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft,” said the company in a press release.
“By hosting our most advanced low-altitude wind sensors at critical locations across AllianceTexas, Hillwood is helping create a data-rich environment that allows us to understand wind patterns better and improve the safety and efficiency of drone and air taxi operations in urban environments,” said Don Berchoff, CEO of TruWeather Solutions. “The collaborative, public-private support we have received has been instrumental in turning the innovative concepts of our Virginia company into an operational reality.”
The projects are led by TruWeather Solutions through contracts and collaborative funding from a NASA Small Business Innovation Research Award and a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) SMART Grant awarded to the City of Fort Worth. The NASA-funded Urban Weather Sensing Infrastructure Testbed will improve weather-sensing data to decrease risks to Advanced Air Mobility Systems. The City of Fort Worth, in collaboration with the North Central Texas Council of Governments, has received a USD2 million SMART Grant from the USDOT to develop and pilot a micro-weather network that will enhance safety and efficiency for intermodal and autonomous transportation.
At the core of the new weather infrastructure is the Wind Guardian, a low-altitude wind sensing system using advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology developed by TruWeather Solutions’ partner, Metro Weather. More than 20 advanced weather and wind sensors will be deployed across key locations throughout AllianceTexas, including the Fixed Base Operation (FBO) at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Alliance Gateway 57 located at 1051 Republic Dr. in Roanoke (currently occupied by Cummins Clean Fuel Technologies) and the AllianceTexas Flight Test Center.
The network includes road weather sensors, cloud-detection sensors and advancements in laser technology, sensor design and data processing.
“AllianceTexas has long been a proving ground for transportation innovation,” said Christopher Ash, president of Alliance Aviation Companies at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. “By partnering with TruWeather, we will go beyond enabling advanced air mobility. We’re helping define the standards and best practices to guide its nationwide growth, which will aid in the safe, reliable deployment of drone technology and autonomous trucking.”
Researchers will begin reviewing sensor data in August to identify ways to optimize low-altitude operations and quantify how using micro-weather information in planning can improve the efficiency of transportation systems. Additional phases of the project will continue through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.
“We see real-time micro-weather intelligence as essential infrastructure for the future of logistics and mobility,” said Nicholas Konen, director of strategic development at Hillwood. “By working closely with TruWeather and public sector leaders, we’re laying the groundwork to support the scalable deployment of drones, autonomous vehicles and eVTOL aircraft across the region.”
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TruWeather Solutions, a global leader in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) weather innovation, in partnership with Hillwood, the City of Fort Worth and the North Central Texas Council of Governments, announces the deployment of the first-ever, comprehensive, low-altitude weather data system in North Texas. The new strategic initiative will support the safe and reliable growth of next-generation transportation technologies, ranging from drone delivery to autonomous trucking and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Implementation of the network is a significant milestone in advanced mobility at AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 27,000-acre master-planned community in north Fort Worth, and one more example of Hillwood’s leadership in innovative public-private partnerships.
“By hosting our most advanced low-altitude wind sensors at critical locations across AllianceTexas, Hillwood is helping create a data-rich environment that allows us to understand wind patterns better and improve the safety and efficiency of drone and air taxi operations in urban environments,” said Don Berchoff, CEO of TruWeather Solutions. “The collaborative, public-private support we have received has been instrumental in turning the innovative concepts of our Virginia company into an operational reality.”
The projects are led by TruWeather Solutions through contracts and collaborative funding from a NASA Small Business Innovation Research Award and a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) SMART Grant awarded to the City of Fort Worth. The NASA-funded Urban Weather Sensing Infrastructure Testbed will improve weather-sensing data to decrease risks to Advanced Air Mobility Systems. The City of Fort Worth, in collaboration with the North Central Texas Council of Governments, has received a $2 million SMART Grant from the USDOT to develop and pilot a micro-weather network that will enhance safety and efficiency for intermodal and autonomous transportation.
At the core of the new weather infrastructure is the Wind Guardian, a state-of-the-art low-altitude wind sensing system using advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology developed by TruWeather Solutions’ partner, Metro Weather. More than 20 advanced weather and wind sensors will be deployed across key locations throughout AllianceTexas, including the Fixed Base Operation (FBO) at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Alliance Gateway 57 located at 1051 Republic Dr. in Roanoke (currently occupied by Cummins Clean Fuel Technologies) and the AllianceTexas Flight Test Center.
The network includes road weather sensors, cloud-detection sensors and advancements in laser technology, sensor design and data processing.
“AllianceTexas has long been a proving ground for transportation innovation,” said Christopher Ash, president of Alliance Aviation Companies at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. “By partnering with TruWeather, we will go beyond enabling advanced air mobility. We’re helping define the standards and best practices to guide its nationwide growth, which will aid in the safe, reliable deployment of drone technology and autonomous trucking.”
Researchers will begin reviewing sensor data in August to identify ways to optimize low-altitude operations and quantify how using micro-weather information in planning can improve the efficiency of transportation systems. Additional phases of the project will continue through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.
“We see real-time micro-weather intelligence as essential infrastructure for the future of logistics and mobility,” said Nicholas Konen, director of strategic development at Hillwood. “By working closely with TruWeather and public sector leaders, we’re laying the groundwork to support the scalable deployment of drones, autonomous vehicles and eVTOL aircraft across the region.”
TruWeather Solutions
TruWeather was established in 2015, driven by the vision of CEO Don Berchoff, a former Science and Technology Director at the National Weather Service, to commercialize next-generation weather science and technologies. TruWeather stands at the forefront of revolutionizing our nation’s strategy for aligning weather data and services across various transportation modes — be it air, land or marine. With its 30-strong team of scientists, software engineers, technologists and operators, the company developed the V360 platform for the next generation of mobility. This comprehensive sensor-driven, data and analytics platform delivers real-time observed data, analytics, forecasts, alerts and enhanced hazard detection through API and web interfaces. At the heart of TruWeather’s business model lies the commitment to reliable science. They specifically target challenges like safety and efficiency as operations scale and reliably address the economics of weather for a greater return on investment (ROI) for stakeholders. www.truweathersolutions.com.
About AllianceTexas
Developed by Hillwood, AllianceTexas is an unparalleled regional success story that has transformed the North Texas economy and connected the area to global industry. Consisting of 27,000 acres, the development is anchored by the world’s first dedicated industrial airport, Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), and hosts one of the nation’s premier intermodal hubs. Today, AllianceTexas is home to 590 companies that have created more than 66,000 direct jobs and have approximately 60 million square feet of developed commercial real estate assets. The development’s cumulative impact since 1989 is an estimated $130 billion for the North Texas region. For additional information, please visit www.alliancetexas.com.
Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI), the worldwide leader of industrial vehicle automation and developer of the Mobius® autonomous fleet management system, has expanded its US footprint into the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro of Texas with a third location. Marking this milestone, ASI hosted a July 30th ribbon cutting. This ASI facility growth comes on the heels of its opening of a second location in Lehi, Utah, outside Salt Lake City in June. ASI’s increased US presence enables optimal support for customers seeking offroad automated vehicle solutions to challenges related to labor shortfalls, safety, productivity, and efficiency.
“Labor shortages are hitting hard across the industries ASI serves—especially in heavy construction and agriculture. In Japan, for instance, the average age of a wheel loader operator is 72. Younger generations aren’t interested in spending their days driving in circles. That’s where ASI steps in—by automating the wheel loader, we free up that young worker to pursue a higher-paying, more fulfilling skilled role”, shared ASI CEO Mel Torrie on July 30th. “We apply that same philosophy internally at ASI. We don’t burn people out—we build them up. Our goal is to create a workplace where people would still choose to show up on Monday, even if they financially didn’t have to. Because when we treat each other well—especially when things go wrong—we perform better for our customers, our teams, and our future. And we’re proud to bring that mindset with us to Fort Worth.”
On hand to welcome ASI was the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. Chamber representative Ben Robertson said, “It is the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s great pleasure to welcome this brand-new member to our community. We are so excited about what ASI is doing here. The Chamber is here to help ASI in any way to succeed and continue to bring opportunities for career and growth to Fort Worth.”
ASI’s new location is within Hillwood’s 27,000-acre master-planned, mixed-use development, AllianceTexas. Hillwood Commons I, located at 9800 Hillwood Parkway, is a three-story Class A office building at Alliance Town Center, a 900-acre vibrant master-planned community anchored by a robust medical district, major retailers, and high-quality, upscale living options in north Fort Worth. “We’re proud to welcome ASI to AllianceTexas, where innovation and infrastructure come together to accelerate growth,” said Steve Aldrich, senior vice president at Hillwood. “Their expansion into Fort Worth reflects the region’s momentum as a hub for advanced technology and logistics—and we’re excited to support their continued success.”
The ASI ribbon cutting employed the services of area businesses. Catering was done by Fort Worth’s Reata. Staging was provided by Rental Stops in Grand Prairie. Music came by way of the talented saxophonist Sylvester Jones of Vintage Perspective Entertainment in Dallas-Fort Worth.
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Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to leadership excellence and continued growth in the aviation sector, Hillwood has promoted longtime aviation executive Christopher Ash to president of the Alliance Aviation Companies at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Ash officially assumed the role on July 1, 2025, and will oversee all operations at Perot Field, including management of the airport, fixed-base operations (FBO) and commercial fueling services, while advancing the airport’s position as one of the top 20 cargo hubs in the United States.
Ash joined Hillwood in 1996 as a line operations specialist and has held a variety of leadership roles over the years. Most recently, as senior vice president of aviation business development, he was instrumental in expanding Hillwood’s military, corporate, aerospace and real estate partnerships throughout AllianceTexas — the company’s 27,000-acre, master-planned, mixed-use development. His efforts were key in attracting major industry leaders such as MTU Maintenance and Embraer to Perot Field, both of which announced major expansions during the same week Texas Governor Greg Abbott named Fort Worth the aviation and defense capital of Texas.
“Chris has made significant contributions across every aspect of our aviation operations,” said Bill Burton, executive vice president at Hillwood. “His leadership and commitment to excellence, along with his work to forge meaningful public-private partnerships with government agencies, research institutions and industry leaders, have been central to our success. His experience and vision are invaluable, and with leaders like Chris, the future of the Alliance Aviation Companies is brighter than ever.”
Ash will continue to work in lockstep with the City of Fort Worth and other municipalities in the Alliance corridor, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and many other institutions, to further advance the aerospace and aviation industry here in North Texas. He also serves on the North Central Texas Council of Governments as a member of the North Texas Safety and Integration Task Force.
Ash has also led advancements in next-generation aviation mobility at the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ). This cutting-edge ecosystem integrates logistics infrastructure and strategic partnerships to help mobility innovators test, scale and commercialize transformative technologies.
“I’m incredibly proud to have grown with an organization that is helping define the future of aviation through leadership in aerospace, infrastructure and mobility innovation,” said Ash. “I look forward to continuing to work with our outstanding team to deliver best-in-class service and operations.”
About AllianceTexas
Developed by Hillwood, AllianceTexas is an unparalleled regional success story that has transformed the North Texas economy and connected the area to global industry. Consisting of 27,000 acres, the development is anchored by the world’s first dedicated industrial airport, Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), and hosts one of the nation’s premier intermodal hubs. Today, AllianceTexas is home to 590 companies that have created more than 66,000 direct jobs and have approximately 60 million square feet of developed commercial real estate assets. The development’s cumulative impact since 1989 is an estimated $130 billion for the North Texas region. For additional information, please visit www.alliancetexas.com.
About Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport
Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) is the world’s first industrial airport, purpose-built for cargo and corporate aviation. Today, AFW offers a broad range of flight services, including air cargo, corporate, private, and military aviation, and serves as the cornerstone of AllianceTexas, the nation’s premier master-planned, mixed-use development. Owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by privately held Alliance Air Services, AFW features state-of-the-art infrastructure and an award-winning FAA air traffic control tower. Alliance Air Services is consistently ranked among the top FBOs in the U.S. by industry publications and fuel service providers. For more information, visit www.perotfield.com.
Under the deal, rare earth magnets will be developed from 100% recycled materials at MP’s flagship manufacturing plant in Hillwood’s AllianceTexas development. Magnet shipments are slated to begin in 2027 and will ramp up to support “hundreds of millions of Apple devices,” MP said.
Apple has struck a $500 million deal to buy rare earth magnets from Las Vegas-based MP Materials—and the magnets will be developed from 100% recycled materials at MP Materials’ flagship manufacturing plant in Fort Worth.
Rare earth magnets are key components in everything from smartphones to computers to EVs, robots, and energy systems. To create the magnets, MP Materials (NYSE: MP) will use recycled rare earth “feedstock” sourced from post-industrial and end-of-life magnets, with the recycling happening at MP’s Mountain Pass site in California.
As part of the deal, MP said it will “significantly expand” the capacity of its Fort Worth plant with a series of new neodymium magnet manufacturing lines designed for a range of Apple products.
Magnets created in Fort Worth will then be shipped across the U.S. and all over the world, helping to meet increasing global demand for the material, Apple said—adding that the boost in production will support “dozens of new jobs in advanced manufacturing and R&D.”
The two companies will provide training to develop the workforce needed, “building an entirely new pool of U.S. talent and expertise in magnet manufacturing,” Apple noted.
Magnet shipments are slated to begin in 2027 and will ramp up to support “hundreds of millions of Apple devices,” MP said.
The companies said they will also work together to establish a new “cutting-edge rare earth recycling line” in MP’s Mountain Pass facility, aiming to develop novel magnet materials and innovative processing tech to enhance magnet performance. When it enters operation, the new line will enable MP to take in recycled rare earth feedstock—including rare earth sourced from used electronics and post-industrial scrap—and reprocess it for use in Apple products.
Apple builds on a five-year collaboration
The two companies have already collaborated for nearly five years, piloting advanced recycling tech “that enables recycled rare earth magnets to be processed into material that meets Apple’s exacting standards for performance and design,” Apple said.
“American innovation drives everything we do at Apple, and we’re proud to deepen our investment in the U.S. economy,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. “Rare earth materials are essential for making advanced technology, and this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of American manufacturing, and we will continue to invest in the ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit of the American people.”
Apple said its $500 million MP commitment is part of its pledge to spend more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.
“We’re proud to partner with Apple to launch MP’s recycling platform and scale up our magnetics business,” James Litinsky, the founder, chairman and CEO of MP Materials, said in a statement. “This collaboration deepens our vertical integration, strengthens supply chain resilience, and reinforces America’s industrial capacity at a pivotal moment.”
Apple first used recycle rare earth elements in the iPhone 11
Apple said it pioneered the use of recycled rare earth elements in consumer electronics, introducing them in 2019 in the iPhone 11’s Taptic engine.
Today, “nearly all magnets across Apple devices” are made with 100% recycled rare earth elements, the company said—adding that its collaboration with MP “will help secure domestic supply of this critical material, strengthen the U.S. rare earth industry’s capabilities to capture more raw material, and advance environmental progress with innovative recycling methods.”
MP Materials said the new Apple deal advances its own mission to restore the full rare earth supply chain to the United States “while raising the global standard for sustainable production.”
By recovering rare earth elements from recycled materials, MP said it aims to “reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and drive cost-competitive domestic magnet production.”
Fort Worth plant began production in January
In January, MP Materials launched commercial production at its Fort Worth plant, commencing neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) metal and trial production of automotive-grade, sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. At the time, MP said a key customer was General Motors and its electric vehicles.
NdFeB magnets are the world’s most powerful and efficient permanent magnets—serving as essential components in vehicles, drones, robotics, electronics, and aerospace and defense systems. But the U.S. has relied almost entirely on foreign sources for these critical inputs “for decades,” MP Materials said in January.
The company aimed to turn that around with its Fort Worth plant, which it calls “the United States’ first fully integrated rare earth metal, alloy, and magnet manufacturing” facility.
Dallas Innovates first wrote about MP’s 200,000-square-foot Fort Worth plant in 2021, noting its planned location within Hillwood’s AllianceTexas development and its role as the business and engineering headquarters for MP’s magnetics division, MP Magnetics. At the time, MP said the plant could ultimately power some 500,000 EV motors every year and restore a “full integrated U.S. supply chain.”
Construction on the plant began in 2022. Read More.
A large German plane engine maintenance company has inked a long-term lease at AllianceTexas, where it plans to invest tens of millions of dollars.
MTU Maintenance signed a 30-year lease with the City of Fort Worth to expand its presence at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. MTU plans to invest $120 million to modernize a roughly 462,000-square-foot building at 2100 Eagle Pkwy. The building used to be the site of American Airlines’ original maintenance base and a Rolls Royce engine plant.
The new operations are expected to bring 1,200 new jobs to the region and 2,000 indirect jobs in services, logistics and infrastructure, according to a June 24 announcement from MTU.
The deal follows a number of companies expanding maintenance operations in response to the area’s large aerospace sector and favorable business climate.
Munich-based MTU Aero Engines AG offers maintenance, repair and overhaul for more than 30 engine types and serves more than 1,100 customers around the world.
Bill Burton, executive vice president at Alliance developer Hillwood, said the lease reflects a new partnership between MTU and GE Aerospace, which is also expanding operations near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. It means MTU can be a designated GE Aerospace engine maintenance repair station. With an increase in orders of new aircraft, the need for engine maintenance is bound to grow, Burton said.
Other companies such as Embraer and Gulfstream have also expanded maintenance operations in Alliance. Burton said Tarrant County College’s aviation training and logistics program at Alliance will help supply a pipeline of skilled workers necessary to meet demand.
“To have this be [MTU’s] largest maintenance testing facility in North America is very exciting,” Burton said. “It’s part of what we imagined when we started Alliance a long time ago. This is the kind of thing that we were hoping to attract.”
Marilyn Marvin, Fort Worth director of property management, said the expansion continues to solidify the city as an aviation hub, home to the likes of American Airlines and Bell Textron.
“MTU’s continued investment in its operations will bring thousands of jobs to North Texas and provide an opportunity to collaborate with universities in ways that promote local talent development and continued training for Fort Worth’s highly-skilled workforce,” Marvin said in a statement.
MTU established its maintenance operation, originally called MTU Maintenance Dallas, in 2023. Equipment at the test facility can produce to 100,000 pounds of thrust. The company said it has rebranded the facility as MTU Maintenance Fort Worth, effective Sept. 1.
Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport is the world’s first industrial airport designed for cargo and corporate aviation traffic and is owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by Alliance Air Services. It’s part of the 27,000-acres AllianceTexas community developed by Hillwood. AllianceTexas is home to 590 companies and has had an estimated $130 billion economic impact on the region since 1989.
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Embraer has opened a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for commercial jets in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, as it prepares for a brand-new center to be completed.
The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer confirmed on June 25, 2025, that its new commercial MRO facilities had opened in an existing hangar at Perot Field Alliance Airport (AFW).
The second hangar at AFW is scheduled for completion in 2027, increasing Embraer’s capacity to serve its US customers across the country by 53%.
The investment will reach up to $70 million and is expected to create approximately 250 new aviation jobs in Texas.
“We are very excited to start operations at our new MRO facility in Fort Worth. The support from the City of Fort Worth, Denton County, and the State of Texas has been essential for launching this operation,” said Frank Stevens, Vice President of Global MRO Centers at Embraer Services and Support.
Stevens added: “We will continue working to expand Embraer’s capacity, capability, and footprint in the US.”
The new Fort Worth service center is the 13th Embraer-owned service center, one of more than 80 Authorized Service Centers worldwide. Embraer announced details about its latest MRO facility back in November 2024.
“We are excited to join Embraer in celebrating the launch of their expanded operations at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Hillwood’s mission at Alliance Texas is to attract world-class companies while creating new jobs in our region – and Embraer is doing just that,” said Bill Burton, Executive Vice President for Hillwood.
He added: “Their phased expansion and investment in Fort Worth underscore the strength of our partnerships and Fort Worth’s standing as a center of aerospace excellence.”
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Fort Worth is historic, with glimpses of its Western heritage found everywhere. It is creative, with some of the best museums in the country. It is industrious, which can be seen in its large factories as well as its grand real estate projects and even in its enterprising small businesses. And it’s growing faster than any other big city in the country.
That makes it a really exciting place to cover, full of interesting stories and colorful characters. But it can also be a challenge to wrap your arms around all the changes that are happening.
That’s why we created the Fort Worth Newsmakers program, now back for its second iteration. This year’s list contains lifelong Fort Worthians as well as newcomers. There are some who left Fort Worth but returned later with ideas to try out. There are even a few who live just outside Fort Worth but are playing major roles in some of the city’s biggest stories. The list was selected purely by newsroom leaders based on our recent coverage; this is not a typical awards program.
The goal with the list is to educate and connect readers, whether you’re a Cowtown insider or someone trying to learn more about this dynamic city from the outside. We expect the Fort Worth Newsmakers to be regular fixtures in our paper as they wrangle with multibillion-dollar projects and tricky challenges — so please reach out with your feedback on this year’s list and who we should consider next year.
2025 Fort Worth Newsmakers
Russell Laughlin
Executive vice president, Hillwood
Trucks, planes and trains move through the 27,000 acres that make up AllianceTexas. And Laughlin is thinking about exactly what technology and infrastructure is needed for the logistics hub in north Fort Worth, both now and in the far future. Part of that effort is being a partner to create a $262 million smart port, an effort to boost the overall supply chain and provide real-time tracking of goods and services as they move through the port. Laughlin plays a critical role in redefining what it means for AllianceTexas to be a modern logistics hub.
View the Full List
The City of Fort Worth is now Texas’ “aviation and defense” capital, after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a resolution earlier this week.
Abbott signed House Concurrent Resolution 142 — labeling Fort Worth the “official Aviation and Defense Capital of Texas” – on June 17, according to a press release. The governor signed this, along with other business-related bills, at a luncheon for the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership.
“The laws being signed today reduce barriers for small businesses and prioritize ordinary Texans,” Abbott said in the release.
While speaking at the event, Abbott “touted the role that Fort Worth plays in the Texas economy and in advancing America’s leadership in military capacity and aerospace technology,” according to the release.
“Fort Worth has played an integral part in advancing America’s leadership in military capability and aerospace technology, and these contributions have brought profound benefits to our state and nation,” the resolution reads.
Fort Worth was first established as a “frontier outpost” in 1849. In World War I, the city was home to Camp Bowie, which trained 100,000 soldiers for the Army’s 36th Infantry Division. In World War II, Fort Worth was instrumental in building B-24 and B-32 bombers and became home to Carswell Air Force Base.
The resolution also cited the city’s connection to the development of the F-16, the headquarters of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II program, the office of American Airlines, Bell Textron’s helicopter production, and the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Abbott attended the event alongside Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Fort Worth EDP President Robert Allen, and others, including state Sens. Kelly Hancock, Bryan Hughes, and Royce West. They were joined by state Reps. Benjamin Bumgarner, Caroline Davila, Charlie Geren, John McQueeney, Morgan Meyer, Katrine Pierson, David Spiller, Tony Tinderholt, and Nate Schatzline.
Schatzline posted on X that it was an “honor” to stand with supporters of legislation to “create an even stronger environment for small businesses,” making Texas the “most PRO BUSINESS state in the USA.”
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CEO Peter Schmidt insists Torc Robotics is well ahead of its competition in the race to commercialize automated driving system technology for Class 8 trucks. The company intends to equip parent company Daimler Truck’s fifth-generation Freightliner Cascadia tractors with Level 4 ADS systems for sale in the U.S. market by 2027.
“That may seem far away, but it really isn’t,” Schmidt told FleetOwner.
The linchpin in that plan is Torc’s new autonomous trucking hub in Hillwood’s AllianceTexas development. Torc will test and validate autonomous vehicles, educate potential customers, and support self-driving trucks. Schmidt and several other executives convened here May 13 for a historic unveiling and tour of this “transformational” facility. “We’re not just opening one more facility, we’re opening a door to the future—the future of autonomous driving,” Schmidt said to the gathered crowd before cutting a ceremonial ribbon.
The open house included insights into hub and fleet operations and autonomous vehicle safety, stops inside the facility’s customer-experience and mission-control centers, a tractor-trailer trade-show unit with a simulator that illustrates how autonomous trucks interpret inputs and make decisions, and, of course, a selfie station with a Torc-powered Cascadia.
“This hub represents more than just logistics,” Torc CCO Andrew Culhane said. “This represents years of relentless planning, prioritization, feedback from industry experts, and tireless efforts from the Torc team here today, as well as across the U.S. At the end of the day, we truly believe this is the realization of our bold vision—in which we see autonomous trucks revolutionizing the freight industry, making it more efficient, more cost-effective, safer, and more reliable for our customers.”
Autonomos hub 1.0
Torc, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, selected the 22,000-sq.-ft. office on 18 acres off Old Denton Road for its strategic proximity to Interstate 35, which passes through Austin and San Antonio before ending up in Port Laredo, the busiest international trade hub in the United States, with 18,000 commercial trucks crossing daily. Additionally, the location is close to several of the largest distribution centers in the country.
“You need to be here if you want to haul freight,” Schmidt said.
“This is the world capital of freight, it’s the end point of our corridor, from I-35 down to Laredo, and it’s just a wonderful place full of businesses, innovators, opportunities—and great partners.”
The rapidly growing area is also centrally located, allowing Torc to eventually redirect autonomous trucks across the U.S. “This is not only strategic to I-35, but also to our Phase 1 network, with how we want to scale and grow,” said Mack Wintin, Torc director of operations.
Torc began running trucks with test loads out of the facility in April and will soon start managing real loads for early adopters like Schneider and C.R. England, who partnered with Torc on previous pilots. Autonomous trucks will pull loaded trailers from Laredo to Torc’s drop-and-hook hub in Fort Worth, where “driver-in” daycabs will tote them to their final destinations. Ten Torc trailers filled the fenced yard when FleetOwner visited. Schmidt said they’re running a handful of Cascadias out of the facility now but soon will have a sizeable fleet.
“This is Version 1.0 of an autonomous hub,” said Carlo Menconi, Torc program manager.
“These trucks are very similar to manual trucks, but the differences are significant. Calibration, localization, inspection, how they impact hub productivity, and how we get data on and off them are all specific to autonomous trucks. So this is where we’re going to figure out what are those best practices, we’re going to document them, and then the efficiencies will be realized through their enhanced productivity and translated back to our customers.”
Mission command
The location will continue to serve as an innovation and remote-assistance center after Daimler begins selling ADS-equipped trucks to customers in 2027. At that point, Torc’s in-vehicle fallback test drivers will transition to mission management or potentially join customer fleets. “We’d like to populate the larger trucking companies out there with folks who understand autonomous trucks and are able to drive them and help with system implementation in a mixed environment,” said John Marinaro, Torc vice president of fleet operations.
Marinaro and Wintin manage deployment on closed courses—like Continental Tire’s Uvalde Proving Grounds and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute’s “Smart Roads”—and on public roadways, with help from Torc’s command-center personnel, who oversee the entire autonomous vehicle ecosystem, from pre-departure preparation to post-trip inspection and everything in between.
Remote assistants provide only indirect support during the mission, Torc emphasized.
“A remote assistant can log into the truck, monitor live camera views, and really understand what the truck is seeing and receiving on the road,” said Collin Robinson, Torc senior product manager. “They’ll have health status, location—a ton of information. And that’s going to help the remote assistant do two things: Support any human interactions with inspectors or law enforcement … and assist the truck in ambiguous or complex driving scenarios.”
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