A new era of long‑haul trucking is rolling through the Southwest as fully driverless semi‑trucks begin operating a 1,000‑mile freight route between Phoenix and Fort Worth, Texas.

Kodiak Robotics, the California-based autonomous trucking company, announced that its self-driving semis are now making the multi‑state trip without a human driver in the cab. The trucks travel along Interstate 10 and Interstate 20, crossing Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas as part of a commercial partnership with logistics carrier Forward Air.

The company says the route is designed to demonstrate that autonomous freight can operate safely and reliably over long distances. The trucks use a combination of sensors, cameras, radar, and onboard computing to navigate traffic, weather, and highway conditions.

Kodiak has been testing autonomous trucks in Arizona for several years, but this marks one of the first fully driverless commercial freight operations in the country. The company says the technology is intended to improve safety, reduce driver fatigue-related crashes, and keep goods moving efficiently during ongoing driver shortages.

Human drivers still handle the first and last miles of each shipment, but the long highway stretch is now completed entirely by the autonomous system. Kodiak plans to expand its driverless operations to additional routes in the coming years.

Source: FOX 10 Phoenix