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18h ago

Aurora Innovation Launches First Driverless Freight Service on U.S. Highways

The company’s fully autonomous Class 8 trucks are now making commercial deliveries between Dallas and Houston, marking a significant milestone in self-driving technology.

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Aurora's self-driving tech suite is known as the Aurora Driver.
Interior of one of Aurora's driverless trucks.

Overview

  • Aurora Innovation has officially begun operating driverless Class 8 trucks on public highways, completing over 1,200 miles without a driver present.
  • The service is initially running between Dallas and Houston, with launch customers Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines.
  • Aurora’s self-driving system, Aurora Driver, is an SAE Level 4 autonomous platform featuring proprietary LiDAR technology and advanced safety features.
  • The company plans to expand its driverless operations to El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, by the end of 2025.
  • This milestone addresses challenges in the trucking industry, including driver shortages and high turnover, while raising questions about job impacts and regulatory oversight.