Kodiak agrees to supply 75 driverless trucks to California carrier from 2028
Kodiak AI has signed its first binding commercial deal to supply driverless trucks for use on public highways, agreeing to deliver 75 vehicles to California freight company DTL Transport from 2028. The agreement matters because it marks a move towards Kodiak earning money by licensing its technology to carriers, rather than owning and operating trucks itself.
DTL plans to use the trucks on several interstate routes, starting with Dallas to El Paso and Dallas to Atlanta. The companies tested the technology in a 225-mile California freight run with a human safety operator, while Kodiak is preparing to remove safety operators from its highway service in December. The company’s existing freight-carrying operations remain pilots, and its shares have fallen 87% from their opening-day price.
In short
- Kodiak will supply DTL Transport with 75 driverless trucks from 2028.
- The deal is its first for highway trucks under a technology-licensing model.
- DTL plans to begin with routes linking Dallas to El Paso and Atlanta.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The deal could show that autonomous trucking is moving from pilots towards a commercial service, with a carrier willing to commit to 75 vehicles and planned interstate routes. Licensing the technology may let Kodiak expand without owning and operating a large fleet, while driverless trucks could eventually improve efficiency and help carriers address staffing pressures.
The case against
A binding order and a successful test with a safety operator do not yet establish that these trucks can operate safely and reliably without one on busy interstate routes. Kodiak’s current freight operations remain pilots, and removing operators while expanding commercially could expose road users and the company to risks before the technology and business model have been proven at scale.
Explained simply
Kodiak AI develops technology that lets trucks drive themselves, while freight carriers transport goods for customers. Its earlier freight services have been pilots, with a human safety operator on board, so this agreement marks a step towards supplying technology for another company to use.
DTL Transport is a California-based carrier planning to use the trucks on routes between US cities. The deal matters because it could show whether Kodiak can build a business licensing its technology to carriers, rather than buying and operating a fleet of its own.
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Originally published by TechCrunch as “Kodiak lands first commercial deal to supply driverless trucks for public highways”.