SEOUL — The landscape of South Korea’s logistics industry is set for a historic shift this summer. Starting in June, autonomous trucks will officially begin transporting commercial freight on major expressways, marking the nation's first authorized step toward a fully unmanned delivery system.
A Milestone for Autonomous Freight
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) announced on April 16, 2026, that it has granted the first-ever license for paid autonomous freight transportation to RideFlux, a leading domestic autonomous driving startup. This approval signals the beginning of a new era where self-driving technology moves beyond passenger cars and into the heavy-duty world of logistics.
RideFlux is scheduled to operate a 25-ton Tata Daewoo Mobility "MAXEN" truck on a 112-kilometer long-haul route. The route connects the Southeast Logistics Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to the Lotte Global Logistics Jincheon Mega Hub Terminal in North Chungcheong Province via the Jungbu Expressway.
Operational Details and Safety Protocols
To ensure safety and minimize disruption to regular traffic, the service will operate three times a week during off-peak hours—specifically between 8:00 PM and 5:00 AM the following day. The truck is programmed to maintain a steady speed of 90 km/h, the standard limit for heavy-duty vehicles on South Korean highways.
The project will follow a rigorous three-stage roadmap to reach full autonomy:
Stage 1 (Current): A safety driver sits in the driver’s seat to intervene if necessary.
Stage 2 (2027 Projected): The safety driver moves to the passenger seat, monitoring the system remotely or via onboard consoles.
Stage 3 (Final): Transitioning to a completely unmanned operation where the vehicle navigates the entire route independently.
Expanding the Horizon of Logistics
The partnership between RideFlux and Lotte Global Logistics is more than just a trial; it is a commercial contract for paid transportation. This economic viability is what sets this project apart from previous pilot tests. Following the initial Seoul-Jincheon route, RideFlux plans to expand its autonomous network to other major hubs, including Jeonju, Gangneung, and Daegu, by the end of this year.
"The first license for paid autonomous freight transport is a monumental leap for the commercialization of this technology," said Park Jun-hyung, Director General for Mobility and Automobiles at MOLIT. "We expect this to address chronic issues in the trucking industry, such as driver fatigue and labor shortages, while significantly enhancing road safety."
The Future of "No-Contact" Delivery
Industry experts suggest that if successful, this initiative will revolutionize the cost structure of the delivery market. Autonomous trucks do not require mandated rest periods, potentially allowing for 24/7 logistics cycles that could reduce delivery times and carbon emissions through optimized fuel consumption.
As South Korea pushes toward a "fully unmanned" goal, the eyes of the global tech community are on the Jungbu Expressway. The success of this 112-kilometer journey could very well dictate the speed at which the rest of the world adopts autonomous freight.
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