Driverless trucks are no longer just a tech dream—they’re officially clocking miles on Texas highways. Autonomous vehicle startup Aurora has launched its first commercial self-driving trucking service between Dallas and Houston, as reported by The Dallas Express.
The rollout includes major partners Hirschbach Motor Lines and Uber Freight, according to CNN.
“We founded Aurora to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly,” said Aurora CEO Chris Urmson in a statement. “Now, we are the first company to successfully and safely operate a commercial driverless trucking service on public roads.”
During the testing phase, human safety drivers were behind the wheel as Aurora refined its tech, dubbed the Aurora Driver. But now, the trucks are going solo. Employees will monitor trips remotely, but no one’s riding shotgun.
“Riding in the back seat for our inaugural trip was an honor of a lifetime — the Aurora Driver performed perfectly and it’s a moment I’ll never forget,” Urmson told Axios.
Before going fully driverless, Aurora racked up more than 3 million autonomous miles and delivered 10,000+ loads as part of its pilot program.
Supporters say self-driving trucks could help ease the national truck driver shortage, cut shipping costs, and smooth out supply chain disruptions. But not everyone’s sold—critics worry about job loss and potential cybersecurity risks.
Still, Aurora is pushing forward. The company plans to expand its driverless routes to Phoenix and El Paso by the end of the year.
