Self-driving trucks get their first DMV permits in California

Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI have been handed permits by the California DMV to test autonomous trucks on state highways. The permits let them run these rigs out on the road — not just on private lots or test tracks.

Both companies have been building this for years. Aurora has partnerships with major carriers and a fleet of 53-foot trucks with 18-wheelers already in service. Kodiak has been quietly testing since 2019 across the Southwest. The DMV's move signals that regulators are starting to treat these vehicles like real freight assets rather than science projects.

Why this matters for us: The I-5 freight corridor runs right through Central Valley — the same stretch where our tios and tías haul loads every day. When a self-driving rig takes a shift off the road, that's not just a tech story. It's about who gets the next load, and who loses the next paycheck.