Texas just made history—Driverless trucks are now delivering freight without humans behind the wheel

Driverless trucks have officially entered the commercial transport scene in the U.S. Autonomous trucking company Aurora announced it has begun regular long-haul routes between Dallas and Houston. These aren’t just tests—this is full commercial service with no safety drivers on board.

Aurora launches service with big-name partners

Aurora’s first commercial driverless trucking operations are backed by partners like Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines. These companies deliver time- and temperature-sensitive freight, and have been working with Aurora during test phases.

Now, the pilot stage is over. Aurora’s trucks are running routes independently, without a human driver to take over in case of emergency.

“We founded Aurora to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly,” said Chris Urmson, CEO and co-founder of Aurora. “Now, we are the first company to successfully and safely operate a commercial driverless trucking service on public roads.”

Behind the wheel: Computers and sensors

The trucks are equipped with advanced sensors and computing systems that allow them to see the length of over four football fields ahead. After four years of preparation and over 10,000 practice deliveries, Aurora’s trucks are finally operating fully autonomously.

As of the launch, the driverless trucks have completed more than 1,200 miles without a human onboard. The company has started with one truck but plans to scale up the fleet through the end of 2025.

Self-driving tech in the trucking industry

Aurora isn’t the only player in the game. Companies like Gatik and Kodiak Robotics are also using autonomous vehicles for deliveries, although many still use safety drivers. Meanwhile, Alphabet’s Waymo discontinued its trucking efforts in 2023 to focus on autonomous ride-hailing.

States like Texas and California have become hotspots for testing this technology, thanks to favorable regulations and vast stretches of highway.

Pushback from unions and regulators

Despite the innovation, not everyone is on board. Labor unions have expressed concern over potential job losses for truck drivers and raised safety issues.

Earlier this year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rejected a petition from Aurora and Waymo to replace traditional roadside warning devices with cab-mounted beacons. The Transport Workers Union opposed the change, arguing it would compromise safety.

“We want the future to be safe and fair—not just fast and automated,” said a representative from the union.

Aurora has responded by releasing a detailed safety report explaining how its technology works and how it plans to keep roads safe.

The road ahead

The rise of autonomous trucking could reshape the logistics industry—but it also opens big questions about safety, employment, and regulation.

For now, Texas is at the center of this change, as the first state to host fully driverless commercial truck routes. Whether this becomes a nationwide trend or stalls out due to concerns remains to be seen.