Aurora launches first self-driving truck service in the US
Aurora Innovation has officially launched the nation’s first fully driverless, heavy-duty trucking service on public highways, marking a historic milestone for autonomous vehicle technology. The rollout began this week in Texas, with self-driving freight trucks operating between Dallas and Houston—without a human behind the wheel.
The startup, which previously postponed its 2024 launch to April 2025, has now met its revised deadline. The first phase of operations is in partnership with Hirschbach Motor Lines and Uber Freight, covering over 1,200 miles of highway freight runs without a driver. Aurora plans to expand the route to include El Paso and Phoenix by the end of the year.
This debut puts Aurora ahead of competitors in real-world deployment. While Kodiak Robotics recently delivered autonomous trucks for off-road commercial use, Aurora is the first to operate on active public roads in the U.S.
However, the launch comes at a complicated time for the freight and logistics industry. A slowdown in freight volumes—partly driven by declining consumer spending and new tariffs—has cast uncertainty over growth forecasts. Aurora’s business model, originally built on solving driver shortages and scaling freight capacity, may face headwinds in the short term. The company is expected to address these challenges during its upcoming Q1 earnings report.
Regulatory hurdles remain another concern. Earlier this year, Aurora filed a lawsuit against federal regulators after being denied an exemption from rules requiring roadside warning triangles during breakdowns—something difficult to execute with no driver in the vehicle. To comply for now, Aurora likely uses human-driven escort vehicles to accompany its autonomous trucks.
Despite the challenges, Aurora’s launch sets a new benchmark in autonomous logistics. The company now faces the dual task of proving its technology's safety and reliability, while navigating evolving policy and economic conditions. If it succeeds, Aurora may redefine the future of long-haul trucking in America.
