Kodiak AI has signed a binding agreement with California-based DTL Transport to deploy 75 autonomous trucks across major US freight corridors, accelerating the commercialisation of driverless long-haul transportation.
Under the agreement, DTL will own and operate the trucks using Kodiak’s autonomous driving system, Kodiak Driver, paying a per-mile technology fee.
Kodiak describes the deal as the first publicly announced definitive commitment by an interstate freight carrier to integrate driverless trucks into its own commercial fleet.
Initial deployments will target Interstate 10 between Dallas and El Paso and Interstate 20 between Dallas and Atlanta, extending autonomous freight operations across America’s Sun Belt.
The agreement follows a September pilot in California, where Kodiak’s technology transported perishable goods over 225 miles between Fresno and Los Angeles using the I-5 and CA-99 corridors.
The operation was conducted under a heavy-duty autonomous vehicle testing permit issued by California regulators.
“This binding agreement reinforces what I have said from the beginning: The Driver-As-A-Service business model is tailor-made for commercial trucking,” said Don Burnette, Founder and CEO, Kodiak.
The commercial model allows carriers to retain ownership of their vehicles while purchasing autonomous driving capabilities as a service.
Kodiak is also preparing to launch driverless highway deliveries for IKEA between Dallas and Houston before the end of 2026.
Separately, its technology already operates in 35 driverless trucks owned by Atlas Energy Solutions, with plans to expand that fleet to 100 vehicles by mid-2027.
The DTL agreement signals growing commercial interest in autonomous freight, although widespread deployment remains dependent on regulatory approvals and operational performance.
