SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 6, 2025 – The future of freight has arrived in Texas, where Aurora Innovation Inc. has officially launched the nation’s first commercial self-driving trucking service. With autonomous deliveries now running regularly between Dallas and Houston, the company is making good on its promise to revolutionize how goods move—faster, safer, and smarter.
The breakthrough follows Aurora’s successful closure of its safety case, signaling that its SAE Level 4 self-driving system, known as the Aurora Driver, is road-ready for commercial operation without a human behind the wheel. The move marks a major milestone not only for the company but for consumers and businesses alike who stand to benefit from faster deliveries, increased supply chain reliability, and enhanced road safety.
Redefining Long-Haul Trucking with Aurora Driver
At the core of Aurora’s innovation is the Aurora Driver—a cutting-edge system powered by advanced sensors and artificial intelligence. Capable of “seeing” beyond the length of four football fields, this driverless tech can predict red-light runners, avoid accidents, and detect pedestrians in low-light conditions—all while maintaining control through a network of redundant safety systems.
Chris Urmson, CEO and co-founder of Aurora, reflected on the inaugural ride: “Riding in the back seat for our inaugural trip was an honor of a lifetime; the Aurora Driver performed perfectly, and it’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
The company reports over 1,200 miles of fully driverless transport already completed, a figure that builds on four years of supervised testing totaling three million autonomous miles and more than 10,000 customer loads.
Safety and Transparency Take the Front Seat
Before launching its driverless operations, Aurora released a detailed Driverless Safety Report and worked closely with elected officials, regulatory agencies, and safety organizations. The company’s commitment to transparency and trust-building has helped pave the way for broader acceptance of autonomous vehicles on public roads.
Aurora’s Verifiable AI—a system blending powerful machine learning with strict safety guardrails—was instrumental in achieving this milestone. The system ensures that the Aurora Driver obeys traffic laws and can respond safely to complex driving scenarios.
“Our commitment to building a transformative technology, earning trust and assembling a strong ecosystem of customers and partners have made this pivotal milestone possible,” added Urmson.
Trusted by Industry Leaders
Aurora isn’t going it alone. The company’s first commercial routes are being operated in partnership with Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines, two logistics giants that have been part of Aurora’s supervised pilot programs for years.
“When Uber Freight and Aurora came together more than four years ago, we set out to transform the future of logistics, and today, that future is here,” said Lior Ron, founder and CEO of Uber Freight.
“Aurora’s transparent, safety-focused approach to delivering autonomous technology has always given me confidence they’re doing this the right way,” added Richard Stocking, CEO of Hirschbach Motor Lines.
What’s Next for Aurora and Consumers
While the first driverless deliveries are currently running between Dallas and Houston, Aurora has announced plans to expand the service to El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, by the end of 2025. With most U.S. states—including Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona—permitting autonomous vehicles, the roadmap ahead looks wide open.
Consumers can expect to benefit from:
- Faster, more predictable shipping times
- Fewer delivery delays due to driver shortages
- Improved safety on highways
- Lower logistics costs passed down through the supply chain
Learn more about how Aurora is changing the road ahead at https://aurora.tech.