Aurora, a leader in autonomous vehicles, has officially deployed its driverless trucks on Texas roads, marking a key milestone in the evolution of transportation.
This development raises important questions about safety, reliability and the future of the trucking industry.
Driverless big rig robotruck (Aurora)
What’s happening?
Aurora’s autonomous trucks now operate on routes between Dallas and Houston, hauling commercial loads.
This isn’t just a test program; it’s a full deployment of driverless technology. Additional trucks will start operating on public roads in New Mexico and Arizona by the end of 2025, traveling at speeds ranging from 25 to 75 mph.
Driverless big rig robotruck (Aurora)
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How safe are these trucks?
The safety of autonomous trucks is a primary concern. Aurora’s 2025 Driverless Safety Report outlines five key principles to ensure safe operation: proficiency, fail-safety, continuous improvement, resilience and trustworthiness. The company uses high-resolution cameras, radar and lidar to understand the environment, with their FirstLight lidar detecting objects from over 1,470 feet away, offering nearly nine seconds of reaction time at highway speeds.
Aurora’s fail-safe system includes multiple redundancies, while the company’s approach to continuous improvement involves regular software updates and incident reviews. They’ve driven over 2.6 million miles autonomously, hauling over 9,500 commercial freight loads with a nearly 100% on-time rate and no major safety incidents.
Safety case and validation
Aurora’s safety approach is evaluated through a “safety case” method, commonly used in aviation and nuclear industries. A third-party audit by TÜV SÜD validated Aurora’s safety management system, confirming alignment with SAE International’s level 4 and level 5 standards. This audit also praised Aurora’s safety culture and oversight practices.
Driverless big rig robotruck (Aurora)
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Industry pushback: OOIDA and Teamsters raise concerns
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), representing over 150,000 truckers, strongly questions Aurora’s safety claims.
“Simulations and supervised testing aren’t enough,” OOIDA states. “Phantom…
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