California Clears Aurora and Kodiak for Self-Driving Truck Tests
Aurora and Kodiak secure California permits to test autonomous heavy trucks, while Teamsters sue the DMV over safety and undisclosed economic impact concerns.
Summary
Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI received California Department of Motor Vehicles permits to test autonomous trucks on public roads. Kodiak has begun with a handful of trucks, mainly near its Mountain View office. Both applied this spring under rules approved April 28 that ended California’s testing ban for driverless vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds and created a path toward deployment. The companies met requirements covering safety, insurance, registration and safety driver qualifications. Tests require a human operator behind the wheel and generally exclude roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less, except direct routes between destinations.
Teamsters California sued the DMV last week in Alameda County Superior Court, alleging it bypassed laws requiring study and public disclosure of potential economic effects and failed to assess risks to motorists. California-based Aurora and Kodiak had concentrated on Texas because of their home state’s former ban. Aurora launched a self-driving truck service between Dallas and Houston in May 2025, then added Fort Worth to El Paso, El Paso to Phoenix, Fort Worth to Phoenix and Laredo to Dallas. Kodiak began commercial driverless operations in January 2025 in the remote Permian Basin’s off-road environment, later expanding onto highways, including Dallas to Houston.
Positives
- April 28 rules ended California’s testing ban for driverless vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds and established a route toward commercial deployment.
- California DMV permits allow Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI to test autonomous heavy-duty trucks in their home state.
- Kodiak has already placed a handful of test trucks on roads primarily near its Mountain View office.
- Aurora’s May 2025 Dallas to Houston service has expanded to four additional routes spanning Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.
- Kodiak progressed from January 2025 Permian Basin operations to highway service between Dallas and Houston.
Risks & concerns
- Teamsters California sued the DMV in Alameda County Superior Court one week before the article’s August 14, 2026 publication.
- The lawsuit alleges the DMV avoided legally required study and disclosure of autonomous trucking’s potential economic consequences.
- Teamsters California also claims the DMV failed to consider safety risks for motorists.
- California testing still requires a human safety operator behind the wheel, limiting fully driverless trials.
- Roads limited to 25 mph or less remain prohibited unless trucks follow direct routes between destinations.