Kodiak Plans Driverless Truck Service on I-45 in Texas

Driverless trucks could soon run on I-45 in Texas.

Kodiak AI plans to launch unsupervised long-haul freight service between the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas by the end of 2026. The driverless portion of the route will cover 219 miles, primarily along I-45, with no human in the cab.

Kodiak is already making daily preparation runs on the route with a safety observer aboard. The company says its trucks are completing deliveries between its Lancaster-area hub and Houston without the observer touching the steering wheel, including on surface streets.

IKEA will be the first shipper partner for the driverless service. Kodiak says the companies have already completed more than 1,300 loads and 750,000 autonomous miles together with a safety observer in the truck.