Autonomous Trucks Begin California Produce Runs with Human Safety Drivers

On September 22, Kodiak AI and DTL Transport began a pilot that transports perishable California produce from Fresno to a Los Angeles distribution hub, covering roughly 225 miles via State Route 99 and Interstate 5. The autonomous trucks operate with a human safety driver seated in the cab, as current state law does not yet allow fully driverless commercial trucks. Kodiak secured its testing permit on August 13, but must first accumulate at least 500,000 miles with a safety driver before applying for unrestricted driverless operation.

DTL hopes the trial will reveal whether robot trucks can alleviate freight shortages, cut shipping expenses, accelerate delivery times, and preserve product freshness. Company executives cite the state's comprehensive autonomous-vehicle regulations as a catalyst for freight innovation. The initiative adds to a competitive landscape that includes Aurora Innovation, Gatik AI, PlusAI, as well as passenger-focused autonomous services from Tesla, Waymo and Amazon’s Zoox.