Autonomous Vehicle Service, Fernride, Deploys Driverless Operations at HHLA TK Estonia Port
**FERNRIDE's Autonomous Terminal Tractor Gains TÜV SÜD Certification, Paving the Way for European Market Expansion**
In a groundbreaking development for the logistics industry, FERNRIDE, a European pioneer in yard truck automation, has received TÜV SÜD certification for its autonomous terminal tractor, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of driverless technology across Europe.
The certification, based on the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), verifies that FERNRIDE's autonomous vehicle platform—comprising vehicles, sensors, computers, and software—meets stringent EU standards for safety, cybersecurity, and system reliability. This certification is an essential step towards CE compliance and facilitates industrial deployment across European ports and terminals.
The certification follows FERNRIDE's successful certification of its safety concept and system design by TÜV SÜD and approval by the Estonian Transport Administration (ETA). This achievement makes FERNRIDE's driverless terminal tractor operations compliant with safety standards for driverless operation in the European single market and internationally.
Fernride's autonomous terminal tractors are currently in operation at HHLA TK Estonia, a logistics terminal situated on the Baltic Sea near Tallinn that handles general, bulk, and ro-ro cargo. The company has been working in partnership with HHLA since early 2023, focusing on a gradual approach to integrate FERNRIDE-enabled autonomous terminal tractors at the terminal without safety drivers.
The transition to driverless operations offers numerous benefits, including operational efficiency and safety gains. By enabling logistics hubs to operate 24/7 with improved safety and reduced labor costs, the adoption of driverless technology has the potential to transform port logistics and yard operations.
The certification also provides customers and regulators with confidence in the safety and reliability of autonomous yard truck systems, which is crucial for wider adoption across various European countries. With FERNRIDE's achievement, a new benchmark for safety and compliance in autonomous trucking for terminal applications has been set.
The broader market for driverless yard trucks in Europe looks promising due to these factors. Other companies like Outrider are also advancing driverless yard truck technology with TÜV SÜD-aligned safety systems, targeting deployment with enterprise customers later in 2025. This indicates a competitive and accelerating market trend toward autonomous yard operations in logistics hubs.
FERNRIDE, founded by Hendrik Kramer, Maximilian Fisser, and Jean-Michael Georg, currently employs over 150 people and has over a decade of research and high-profile customers, including Volkswagen, HHLA, and DB Schenker. The company offers a human-assisted autonomy approach to terminal tractor operation, allowing for remote takeovers when necessary.
HHLA TK Estonia's Riia Sillave stated that entering the phase of driverless terminal transport marks a significant milestone for the future of terminal operations. Benedikt Pulver, head of the machine safety department at TÜV SÜD, noted that FERNRIDE's achievement could establish a new benchmark for safety and compliance in autonomous trucking for terminal applications.
With the TÜV SÜD certification, FERNRIDE's autonomous terminal tractor is poised to expand market opportunities across Europe, offering safer, more cost-effective, and scalable automation solutions to ports and logistics yards seeking to modernise their operations. Adoption is expected to grow rapidly as more logistics operators and enterprises gain confidence in certified autonomous systems and regulatory frameworks continue to mature.
- The TÜV SÜD certification for FERNRIDE's autonomous terminal tractor, based on the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), signifies the adoption of technology like driverless yard tractors, driverless terminals, and autonomous trucks in Europe's logistics industry.
- This certification, essential for CE compliance, also serves to instill confidence in customers and regulators regarding the safety and reliability of autonomous yard truck systems, paving the way for expansion across various European countries and the growth of the driverless logistics market.
