Kodiak AI has announced its first binding commercial contract to supply driverless trucks for use on public highways, with 75 self-driving big rigs to be delivered to freight carrier DTL Transport starting in 2028. The deal comes just weeks before Kodiak plans to pull human safety operators from its cabs and launch a fully driverless service on Interstate 45 in Texas.
Kodiak AI announced Wednesday it has signed a binding commercial contract to supply 75 self-driving trucks to DTL Transport, a California-based mid-market carrier that hauls fresh produce and groceries. The trucks are expected to begin service in 2028 on multiple interstate routes, starting with Dallas to El Paso, Texas, and Interstate 20 between Dallas and Atlanta. Kodiak has already conducted testing and operations on both routes.
The deal marks Kodiak's first on-highway Driver-as-a-Service (DaaS) agreement, under which DTL will own and operate the trucks while Kodiak licenses its self-driving technology and charges by the mile. Kodiak has previously operated under a Trucking-as-a-Service (TaaS) model, where it owns and runs the trucks itself, and will continue that approach while moving toward an asset-light model.
“One of the things that we love about mid-market carriers (like DTL) is that they are able to move with fast execution speed, much more at the speed of a startup or a small company or a tech company like Kodiak, and that they just want to get stuff done,” Kodiak founder and CEO Don Burnette told TechCrunch. “It’s easier for them to integrate into their fleet because they’re not as large, and we think that this is a real turning point for the self-driving industry in general.”
Burnette described the company's strategy of proving its technology through its own trucks first. “You have to prove out the technology first using your own truck, show them that it works, show them that it’s safe, show them that it integrates,” he said. “And then we want to be asset light. We don’t want to be in the business of running a trucking company.”
The contract could give Kodiak a revenue boost. Based on its 2025 investor presentation, which forecast annual recurring revenue of $150,000 to $190,000 per truck assuming a per-mile licensing fee of about $0.97 and 225,000 miles annually, the 75-truck deal could generate at least $11.2 million in yearly revenue once fully delivered. The company did not disclose the contract's value.
Kodiak went public in September 2025. Its shares have fallen 87% from their opening-day price. The company plans to launch a driverless highway service in December 2026, carrying goods for Ikea between Dallas and Houston on I-45, after removing human safety operators from the cab.
Kodiak already has a DaaS customer in Atlas Energy Solutions, which has operated 35 driverless trucks with Kodiak's system in off-road settings in West Texas since 2024. Burnette said Kodiak expects to have as many as 100 trucks in service there by mid-2027.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The first binding commercial deal for driverless highway trucks signals a potential shift in the autonomous trucking industry from pilots to real revenue.
- Kodiak's transition to an asset-light model could reduce capital requirements and accelerate adoption among mid-market carriers.
- Success on key interstate corridors could reshape long-haul freight logistics and directly compete with human-driven trucking.
Background
Kodiak AI went public in 2025 and has been developing self-driving technology for long-haul trucking. It currently operates a Trucking-as-a-Service model, owning and running trucks for customers on three active routes in Texas. The company aims to move to a Driver-as-a-Service model, where customers own and operate trucks fitted with Kodiak's technology. The deal with DTL Transport was forged after a pilot program in California last month, during which Kodiak autonomously hauled perishable goods 225 miles between Fresno and Los Angeles with a human safety operator.
What to Watch
- December 2026: whether Kodiak successfully removes safety operators and launches its first fully driverless commercial service on I-45.
- Kodiak's ability to scale driverless operations and attract additional DaaS customers beyond DTL and Atlas.
- Stock performance: shares have fallen 87% from their opening-day price; the deal may affect investor confidence and the company's market valuation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedKodiak’s deal is its first commercial deal for driverless trucks on public highways.TechCrunch: “It’s the company’s first binding commercial deal for driverless big rigs that will run on public highways.”
- Partly supportedThe 75 trucks are expected to start hauling freight for DTL in 2028.TechCrunch: “Kodiak AI will deliver 75 self-driving trucks to freight company DTL Transport starting in 2028.”
- Partly supportedThe deal comes just weeks before Kodiak plans to remove safety operators and launch the I-45 service in December 2026.TechCrunch: “The contract, announced Wednesday, comes just ahead of Kodiak’s next big milestone: pulling human safety operators out of the cab to begin operating a driverless highway service in December. The company, which went public in September 2025, plans to launch that service by carrying goods for Ikea on Interstate 45 between Dallas and Houston.”
- SupportedDTL plans to use the trucks on routes from Dallas to El Paso and on I-20 between Dallas and Atlanta.TechCrunch: “DTL Transport ... plans to use the self-driving trucks on multiple interstate highway routes, starting with Dallas to El Paso, Texas, and Interstate 20 between Dallas and Atlanta.”
- SupportedUnder the DaaS deal, DTL will own and operate the trucks, while Kodiak licenses its technology and charges by the mile.TechCrunch: “Ultimately, Kodiak wants to move to a Driver-as-a-Service (DaaS) model, in which customers own and operate the trucks. Kodiak licenses its technology, charging customers by the mile for the duration of the contract.”
- SupportedBurnette said mid-market carriers can move quickly and get things done, and that working with them is a turning point for the self-driving industry.TechCrunch: ““One of the things that we love about mid-market carriers (like DTL) is that they are able to move with fast execution speed, much more at the speed of a startup or a small company or a tech company like Kodiak, and that they just want to get stuff done,” Kodiak founder and CEO Don Burnette told TechCrunch in an exclusive interview. “It’s easier for them to integrate into their fleet because they’re not as large, and we think that this is a real turning point for the self-driving industry in general.””
- SupportedBurnette said Kodiak first proves its technology with its own truck, then wants to be asset-light rather than run a trucking company.TechCrunch: ““You have to prove out the technology first using your own truck, show them that it works, show them that it’s safe, show them that it integrates,” Burnette said, describing the Trucking-as-a-Service model. “And then we want to be asset light. We don’t want to be in the business of running a trucking company.””
- Partly supportedThe deal could generate at least $11.2 million in yearly revenue once all 75 trucks are delivered.TechCrunch: “Assuming those projections bear out, the deal with DTL Transport could generate at least about $11.2 million in annual recurring revenue once all 75 trucks are delivered.”
- SupportedKodiak did not disclose the contract’s value.TechCrunch: “Kodiak didn’t reveal the value of the deal with DTL Transport.”
- SupportedKodiak’s shares have fallen 87% from their opening-day price.TechCrunch: “Its shares have fallen 87% from their opening-day price.”
- SupportedAtlas Energy Solutions has operated 35 Kodiak-equipped driverless trucks in off-road West Texas settings since 2024.TechCrunch: “Atlas Energy Solutions has been a Driver-as-a-Service customer since 2024. Technically, Atlas was Kodiak’s first customer under a binding commercial contract, but its driverless trucks operate in off-road settings in West Texas’ remote Permian Basin. Atlas currently owns and operates 35 driverless trucks equipped with Kodiak’s self-driving system.”
- SupportedBurnette said Kodiak expects to have as many as 100 trucks in service there by mid-2027.TechCrunch: “Burnette said Kodiak is on track to have as many as 100 in service there by mid-2027.”
