Inside AllianceTexas Smart Port: How Texas is Building the Future of Autonomous Freight & Supply Chains

Michael Morris, Director of Transportation, North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and Nick Konen, Director of Strategic Development, Hillwood joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss how Texas is building the future of autonomous freight and supply chains.

AllianceTexas Smart Port in North Texas represents a groundbreaking vision for the future of freight and logistics, combining advanced infrastructure with automation and autonomy. Located at one of America’s largest inland ports, the development features 60 million square feet of existing warehouse space, with another 60 million planned over the next 30 years.

The project leverages unique assets including the Alliance Airport handling 2.1 billion pounds of cargo annually, BNSF’s intermodal facility moving a million containers yearly, and strategic placement along I-35. Through a $80 million federal grant and $96 million in private investment, the Smart Port is implementing dedicated truck lanes, advanced sensor networks, and infrastructure designed for autonomous trucks.

Episode Chapters

• 0:00 AllianceTexas Smart Port
• 3:11 Planning for Growth
• 8:27 Texas Innovation
• 15:40 Warehouse Automation
• 18:58 Roadway Sensors
• 24:04 Dedicated Autonomous Truck Lanes
• 30:10 Automation Jobs
• 34:31 Freight Tunnels
• 36:57 Apprenticeships
• 41:12 Economic Impact of AllianceTexas Smart Port
• 46:27 Future of Autonomy & Automation in North Texas