Autonomous Trucks to Operate Between Seoul and Jincheon... First Approval for Paid Cargo Transport

by Choi Daeyul

Published 16 Apr.2026 06:00(KST)

Ministry Approves Rideflux Application

A paid cargo transport service utilizing autonomous vehicles will be launched for the first time in June 2026.

On April 16, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it had approved the paid cargo transport service with autonomous vehicles applied for by Rideflux, a self-driving technology company. This is the first time approval has been granted for paid cargo transport using autonomous vehicles. The service will operate 25-ton trucks capable of traveling at speeds of up to 90 km/h, covering a 112-kilometer long-distance route connecting the logistics complex in the southeastern part of Seoul and the Lotte Global Logistics Jincheon Mega Hub Terminal.

The pilot operation will run on highways as a middle-mile general parcel cargo transport service, operating three times a week on weekdays between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following day. After receiving applications in February, the project underwent document reviews as well as on-site safety evaluations. The evaluations were conducted by the Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute, the Korea Transport Institute, and Korea Expressway Corporation.

Interior of the autonomous paid freight transport truck applied by Rideflux. Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

The Ministry plans to introduce autonomous cargo transport services in cities across the country, such as Jeonju, Gangneung, and Daegu, within this year. For safety, the initial operation will take place with a test driver in the driver’s seat. Starting next year, the service will be gradually transitioned to unmanned autonomous driving.

Park Junhyung, Director General of Mobility and Motor Vehicles at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "This year will mark a major leap toward the commercialization of autonomous driving technology in the field of cargo transport. We will actively support domestic autonomous driving technologies so that they can secure competitiveness not only in passenger transport but also in cargo transport."