Self-driving trucks are officially testing on California highways
TechCrunch
β’Fri, 14 Aug 2026 20:37:49 +0000
π° What Happened
Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI got permits from California to test self-driving trucks on public roads. Kodiak has already started testing a handful of trucks around its Mountain View office. The permits were issued under updated rules approved on April 28. Those rules lifted a ban on driverless vehicles over 10,000 pounds testing on public roads. A human safety operator must still be behind the wheel.
π The Backstory
Both companies applied for testing permits this spring. They met the DMV's criteria for safety, insurance, registration and safety driver qualifications. The rules ban testing on roads with a speed limit of 25 mph or less, unless on a direct route. The push for self-driving trucks has caused opposition. Last week, Teamsters California sued the state DMV. It claimed the agency did not study the economic impact or safety risks of self-driving trucks on public roads.
π― Why It Matters
Self-driving trucks could change how goods move across the US. But the debate over safety and job losses is getting heated, and the lawsuits show the fight is far from over.
Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI got permits from California to test self-driving trucks on public roads. Kodiak has already started testing a handful of trucks around its Mountain View office. The permits were issued under updated rules approved on April 28. Those rules lifted a ban on driverless vehicles over 10,000 pounds testing on public roads. A human safety operator must still be behind the wheel.
Both companies applied for testing permits this spring. They met the DMV's criteria for safety, insurance, registration and safety driver qualifications. The rules ban testing on roads with a speed limit of 25 mph or less, unless on a direct route. The push for self-driving trucks has caused opposition. Last week, Teamsters California sued the state DMV. It claimed the agency did not study the economic impact or safety risks of self-driving trucks on public roads.
Self-driving trucks could change how goods move across the US. But the debate over safety and job losses is getting heated, and the lawsuits show the fight is far from over.