Ready for Driverless Trucks? I Took a Ride in Kodiak’s Autonomous Semi

Kodiak AI, a company established in 2018, is working towards deploying autonomous semi trucks on highways without a human driver. The Kodiak Driver system, launched in December 2024, is already powering 35 fully driverless trucks owned and operated by Atlas Energy Solutions in the Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas. These trucks transport frac sand, a key material used in hydraulic fracking, from depots to well sites.

Kodiak's ultimate goal is to extend its fully driverless operations to highways, beginning with a route between Houston and Dallas, a 219-mile journey primarily along Interstate 45. Michael Wiesinger, Kodiak's chief operating officer, believes autonomous trucks are safer, as they have a 360-degree view of their surroundings and are never drowsy, tired, or distracted.

Currently, California uses Kodiak's technology for shipping produce from Fresno to Los Angeles, but a safety driver remains behind the wheel. During my visit to Kodiak's headquarters in Mountain View, California, I had the chance to ride in one of the company's trucks, demonstrating its autonomous capabilities. Despite the regulatory requirement of a safety operator, the autonomous technology navigated surface streets and highways effortlessly, weaving through traffic without any issues.

Kodiak's trucks run on diesel, allowing them to cover longer distances compared to electric vehicles. While autonomous trucking brings concerns about job displacement, Kodiak maintains that human involvement is still necessary for truck preparation, refueling, and other tasks. The company collaborates with truck-stop providers to facilitate refueling as it expands its driverless operations.

Kodiak is not alone in this venture, with other companies like Aurora, Waabi, Gatik, and Tesla also exploring autonomous trucking solutions, including Tesla's electric Semi, which may eventually incorporate driverless capabilities.