Self-driving truck testing has officially begun on California public roads, following permits issued to Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Kodiak AI has already started its testing operations.
Kodiak AI is initially deploying a small number of test trucks, primarily concentrated around its Mountain View office. Both companies applied for these permits under new DMV rules, approved on 28 April, which lifted a ban on testing driverless vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds on public roads.
The permits mandate that a human safety operator must be present behind the wheel during testing. Additionally, companies are prohibited from operating on roads where the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less, unless they are on a direct route between destinations.
Despite these restrictions, the presence of self-driving trucks on California highways is facing opposition. Teamsters California filed a lawsuit last week against the state's DMV, alleging that the agency did not adequately study and disclose the potential economic impacts and safety risks before allowing these vehicles on public roads.