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Kodiak CEO says making trucks drive themselves is only half the battle

The Verge / 3/21/2026

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Key Points

  • Kodiak AI plans to launch a fully driverless long-haul freight operation by the end of 2026, signaling concrete progress in autonomous trucking.
  • Kodiak CEO Don Burnette argues that deploying autonomous trucks is only half the battle, stressing the importance of business model, operations, safety, and regulatory readiness alongside the tech.
  • The Verge notes competition from Aurora and Waabi, highlighting a broader push in autonomous trucking beyond just technology milestones.
  • While robotaxi headlines grab attention, driverless trucks are progressing steadily and could reshape logistics and trucking economics over time.
Kodiak AI self-driving truck

This year is shaping up to be a big one for self-driving trucks. In addition to Aurora's plan to deploy hundreds of autonomous big rigs and Waabi expanding into robotaxis, you've also got Kodiak AI aiming to launch its own fully driverless long-haul freight operation by the end of 2026. While robotaxis may still win all the headlines, driverless trucks are making their own progress, slowly but surely.

But in a recent interview, Kodiak AI CEO Don Burnette said that deploying autonomous trucks is really only half the battle. He said that while most of his competitors are fussing over details like AI, perception, and mileage milestones, Kodia …

Read the full story at The Verge.