Driverless trucks have embarked on their first regular long-haul routes between Dallas and Houston, with Aurora launching its commercial service in Texas for customers like Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines. Aurora's trucks, equipped with advanced computers and sensors, have completed over 1,200 miles autonomously and delivered more than 10,000 customer loads during four years of practice hauls. Despite the advancements, there are safety concerns and opposition from unions fearing job losses, highlighted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's rejection of a petition to replace traditional warning devices. While the autonomous trucking sector continues to attract significant attention and investment from companies like Tesla and GM, testing predominantly occurs in states like Texas and California. Aurora plans to expand its fleet by the end of 2025, aiming to safely and broadly deliver the benefits of self-driving technology.

Driverless trucks, operated by Aurora, have started regular long-haul routes between Dallas and Houston, marking a significant milestone in autonomous trucking as Aurora's commercial service goes live in Texas with clients such as Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines.

Aurora's trucks are equipped with sophisticated computers and sensors that can detect objects at a distance equivalent to over four football fields, ensuring the safe navigation of roads without human drivers.

Over four years, Aurora's technology has successfully transported more than 10,000 customer loads, and recently, the trucks have driven over 1,200 miles autonomously, demonstrating the reliability of their self-driving capabilities.

Despite the technological progress, safety concerns persist, with unions opposing driverless technology due to potential job losses, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration denying a petition to replace traditional safety devices with new technology.

The autonomous trucking industry continues to see interest and investment from major automotive companies, with Texas and California serving as key testing grounds, although companies like Waymo have shifted focus away from trucking to ride-hailing services.

Aurora released a safety report detailing their technology's operations to address safety concerns, as the company plans to expand its fleet by the end of 2025, aiming to deliver the benefits of driverless technology broadly and safely.

While Aurora has made strides in driverless trucking, the broader adoption of autonomous vehicles remains contested, with regulatory and safety challenges needing to be addressed alongside technological advancements.