FERNRIDE, a leader in autonomous yard trucking, has initiated the operational rollout of driverless terminal tractors at HHLA TK Estonia Terminal.
This transition follows the successful certification of FERNRIDE’s autonomous system by TÜV SÜD, along with official approval from the Estonian Transport Administration.
Notably, FERNRIDE is the first company to receive TÜV SÜD certification for an autonomous terminal tractor compliant with the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC).
The certification verifies that FERNRIDE’s full vehicle platform—including its sensors, computing systems, and software meets stringent EU standards for safety, cybersecurity, and system reliability.
This represents a significant step toward full CE compliance and industrial-scale deployment throughout Europe.
Hendrik Kramer, CEO and co-founder of FERNRIDE, emphasized the importance of this breakthrough, saying that this achievement demonstrates that our technology meets the highest safety standards bringing them closer to making autonomous logistics commercially viable across the EU.
Riia Sillave, CEO of HHLA TK Estonia, highlighted the strategic value of this initiative, noted that the move toward driverless terminal transport reflects an ambition to be a digital frontrunner in terminal operations.
Benedikt Pulver, Head of Machine Safety at TÜV SÜD, also acknowledged the wider implications highlighting that this sets a new standard for safety and compliance, and may serve as a blueprint for future deployments in terminal environments.
Since the beginning of their collaboration in January 2023, FERNRIDE and HHLA TK Estonia have worked in close coordination to prepare for real-world implementation. The partnership has already achieved productive live operations with autonomous tractors on-site, demonstrating the system’s readiness for full integration into terminal workflows.
