Big Rigs · Texas · October 22, 2026

Kodiak Driverless Semi Stays Powered On for 64 Days as Texas I-45 Launch Nears

Texas could see driverless semis running between Dallas and Houston by the end of the year, and the company behind them has announced a new record. Kodiak AI says one of its driverless trucks stayed powered on and ready to work for 64 days straight.

The source of this story is a company announcement, so the figures below are Kodiak's claims.

What the record means

According to Kodiak's announcement on Oct. 20, an unsupervised driverless truck running the Kodiak Driver system achieved 64 consecutive days of continuous uptime, from June 30 to Sept. 1, 2026. During that stretch, the truck never powered off or restarted.

It is important to be clear about the word "uptime." It means the truck and its self-driving system stayed powered on, running and available for service. It does not mean the truck drove for 64 days nonstop.

Five other Kodiak-equipped trucks each passed 45 consecutive days of uptime.

Where it happened

The record was set in the Permian Basin oilfield, in Kodiak's industrial deployment there. As of June 30, 2026, the trucks were part of a fleet of 35 driverless trucks owned and operated by Atlas Energy Solutions. That fleet had passed 40,000 cumulative hours of paid driverless operation, according to the investor release.

Kodiak has committed to growing that fleet to 100 trucks by mid-2027.

Next stop: I-45

Kodiak says it is making final preparations to launch driverless trucks on Interstate 45 between Dallas and Houston by the end of 2026. That is the company's plan, not a done deal. Launch dates for new technology can move.

Why drivers are talking about it

A human driver has to stop, sleep, eat and call home. Hours-of-service rules exist for good reason. A truck that never shuts off for two months is a very different kind of machine, and that contrast is why stories like this draw strong reactions.

Supporters of autonomous trucks point to long stretches of highway and steady, repetitive routes as a natural fit for the technology. Skeptics point to bad weather, construction zones, breakdowns and the many judgment calls a professional driver makes every shift. Oilfield routes in the Permian Basin and a busy interstate like I-45 are also very different environments.

For now, the I-45 launch is still ahead, and the industry will be watching to see how it goes.

What readers are asking

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