Can autonomous trucks really make roads safer?

Kodiak AI, a leading provider of AI-powered autonomous driving technology, has spent years quietly proving that self-driving trucks can work in the real world. The company’s core system, the Kodiak Driver, conveniently brings together software and hardware. As the company explains, “Kodiak Driver combines advanced AI-powered software with modular, vehicle-agnostic hardware into a single, unified platform.”

That approach is important because trucking is not a closed laboratory environment. It’s the roads, the weather, the fatigue and the long days. Kodiak’s strategy focuses on resolving those realities first.

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How public opinions on autonomous trucks are changing

During a recent episode of CyberGuy’s “Beyond Connected” podcast, Kurt spoke with Daniel Goff, vice president of external affairs at Kodiak AI, about how attitudes toward autonomous trucks have changed over time.

WILL AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS REPLACE DRIVERS IN 2027?

Goff described how different the reaction was when the company first launched. “Kodiak was founded in 2018 and I joined in 2019. When I started at the company, I said I worked for a company that was working to build self-driving trucks, and people looked at me like I was crazy. Over the last few years, we’ve really seen autonomous vehicles capture the public’s imagination. We’ve seen them grow in the real world. I think people are getting more used to this idea.”

For Goff, that shift came from seeing the technology work safely outside of test environments, where performance matters more than hype.

Why autonomous trucks could improve road safety

One of the core arguments of Kodiak AI is simple. Machines avoid many of the risks that come with human driving. “We think this technology has advantages that humans, including myself, can’t match. You know this technology doesn’t get distracted. It doesn’t check its phone. It doesn’t have a phone. It doesn’t have a bad day going out on the road. It doesn’t speed. It doesn’t know how to speed. You know they’re pretty boring drivers.” In road transport, boring is usually a good thing.

Where autonomous trucks already operate today

Kodiak AI is already doing this on real roads. The company has been operating active freight routes for years, not just testing in controlled environments. “Kodiak’s headquarters is in Mountainview, California, but since 2019, we have a command center in Lancaster, Texas, which is just south of Dallas. Since 2019, we have been delivering cargo from that Lancaster center to Houston, Oklahoma City and Atlanta with what we call a safety driver behind the wheel.”

Those real-world miles have helped Kodiak hone its system in everyday traffic, weather and long-distance conditions.

The trucking problem Kodiak is trying to solve

Long-haul trucking is essential to the American economy, but it is also one of the most demanding and risky jobs on the roads. Drivers spend long distances away from home, work long hours, and operate heavy vehicles in all conditions. As Goff put it: “Driving a truck is one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs that people do in the United States every day. You know, being a trucker means, at least for a long-haul trucker, being away from your family sometimes for days, weeks, and even months at a time, sleeping in the back of the truck.”

He also pointed to federal safety rules that limit the time drivers can spend behind the wheel, which is intended to reduce fatigue but also restrict the amount of cargo a person can carry in a day. “If you drive the legal maximum of 11 hours a day and there are people who love to be long-haul truckers, we don’t see people filling those roles in this country anymore, and drivers are retiring every year.”

Those realities have contributed to the current driver shortage and increasing pressure on the freight transportation system. Kodiak believes autonomous technology is best used when work is more difficult and repetitive. “The purpose of this technology is really best suited for those really tough jobs. The long miles of lonely highways, the trucks and the remote locations where people don’t want to live or don’t want to or can’t live easily.”

Goff also highlighted how much capacity is lost simply because trucks sit idle most of the day. “The average truck is driven about seven hours a day in the U.S., and you know it’s 24 hours a day, so that’s a lot of time sitting there.”

Autonomy, he said, could help change that math. “The goal of the technology is to basically be able to operate 24/7, just stopping to refuel, to inspect the truck for safety, and you know, other than that, the trucks are moving.”

How many miles has Kodiak AI traveled to demonstrate safety?

Kodiak AI prioritizes data over promises. “We’ve driven over 3 million miles with a safety driver behind the wheel for most of those miles, which means someone is ready to take control at a moment’s notice. So we have a very good track record.” To put that in perspective, Goff added: “The average American drives about 800,000 miles in their lifetime, which seems crazy. That’s a lot of driving, but today we have almost four average lifetimes with our system, and we also use computer simulation and all kinds of things to evaluate the safety of the system.”

In addition to its long-haul operations, Kodiak AI works with Atlas Energy Solutions, which performs oil logistics in the Permian Basin of West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Through the third quarter of 2025, the company has delivered 10 driverless trucks to Atlas, which autonomously deliver sand up to 24 hours a day without any human operator in the cabin. Goff says, “We view our work in the Permian as a perfect testing environment for our long-haul operations.”

The company has also sought third-party validation. “In addition, we’ve done external studies. We did a study with a company called Nauto, which is one of the leaders in AI dash cams. They actually help vehicle fleets calculate safety scores from an external perspective. Our system scored the highest ever on Nauto’s safety score.”

THE ROAD TO PROSPERITY WILL BE PAVED BY AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS

Where are the regulations for autonomous trucks today?

Politics is another key factor in adoption. “From a regulatory perspective, 25 states have passed laws allowing the deployment of autonomous vehicles.” Goff believes the danger of daily driving makes the case clear. “I think people who think about transportation every day understand how dangerous it is to drive a car, drive a truck and just be on the road see the potential of this technology.”

What critics say about autonomous trucks

Autonomous road transportation continues to raise concerns among safety advocates and everyday drivers. Critics question whether the software can respond quickly enough in emergencies, handle unpredictable human behavior or make decisions during complex situations on the road.

Kodiak AI says those concerns are exactly why security comes first. As Goff explained: “In this particular industry, we really understand how important it is to be safe.”

The company maintains that autonomous systems must earn trust over time through real-world performance, transparent testing and measurable results, not promises or hype.

What does this mean to you?

For everyday drivers, autonomous trucks raise understandable questions. Sharing the road with a software-controlled vehicle can be unsettling, especially when headlines often focus on what could go wrong. Kodiak’s argument is that safety improves when fatigue, distraction and emotional decision-making during long highway driving are eliminated. If the technology continues to work as claimed, the impact could manifest itself more quietly. That includes fewer tired drivers on nighttime routes, more predictable freight movement, and potentially safer roads over time. For consumers, it could also mean fewer delivery delays and less strain on a transportation system that already has few drivers.

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Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Autonomous transportation is no longer a future concept. Kodiak AI is already moving goods and collecting real safety data on public roads. At the same time, skepticism remains healthy and necessary. Trust in this technology will rise or fall based on transparency, regulation and long-term performance, not promises. The real question is no longer whether autonomous trucks can work. It’s about whether they can consistently demonstrate that they make roads safer for everyone who shares them.

Would you trust autonomous trucks more if they could show a better safety record than human drivers over time? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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