GoKawiilKodiak AI signs deal to supply 75 driverless trucks to DTL Transport by 2028
Kodiak AI has secured its first binding commercial contract for driverless trucks on public highways, agreeing to deliver 75 self-driving big rigs to California carrier DTL Transport starting in 2028. DTL plans to deploy the trucks on interstate routes between Dallas and El Paso, and Dallas and Atlanta, where Kodiak has already conducted testing. The announcement comes ahead of Kodiak's plan to remove human safety operators from trucks in December for a driverless service hauling Ikea goods on Interstate 45.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The deal could mark a shift for Kodiak toward becoming an 'asset-light' technology seller rather than operating trucks itself, a model it shares with rival Aurora Innovation, according to the company. CEO Don Burnette suggests mid-market carriers like DTL offer faster integration than larger fleets, which he frames as a potential turning point for the self-driving trucking industry. The contract also arrives as Kodiak's stock has dropped 87% since its September 2025 IPO, so the deal may serve as a revenue and credibility signal to investors.
- Kodiak will supply 75 driverless trucks to DTL Transport beginning in 2028, its first binding public-highway deal.
- Kodiak plans to launch a driverless service without safety operators in December, hauling Ikea freight on I-45 between Dallas and Houston.
- The deal signals Kodiak's potential shift toward selling self-driving technology rather than operating trucks itself, following its 87% stock decline since going public.
Source: techcrunch.com — Kirsten Korosec, 2026-10-28
Published there as: “Kodiak lands first commercial deal to supply driverless trucks for public highways”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.