California’s First Self-Driving Trucks Hit the Road, and the Rules Are in Court
Aurora and Kodiak have secured California's first heavy autonomous vehicle permits, granted days after Teamsters California filed a lawsuit challenging the regulations that made this possible.
Latest in Self-Driving Truck News
- August 17, 2026
- Source: Kodiak
California has approved permits for testing autonomous trucks on public roads, specifically for Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI. Kodiak has already begun operating trucks in Mountain View, California.
This comes after a rule change on April 28th that lifted a ban on testing autonomous vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds, previously preventing these companies from testing in their home state.
The permits come with restrictions: a safety driver must remain in the vehicle, and testing is limited to roads with speed limits above 25 mph, except for direct routes between destinations.
However, these rules are already facing legal challenges. Teamsters California filed a petition on August 5th, asking a judge to repeal the regulations. Their argument centers on the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) allegedly skipping necessary studies on the economic impact and failing to adequately assess risks to other road users.
"Such a critical decision with life-and-death consequences must involve public input and transparency," stated Peter Finn, co-chair of Teamsters California.
The union plans to continue their fight through legal channels, political engagement, and even the next administration, as gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra has pledged to reverse the DMV rules if elected.
The regulatory path to autonomous trucks was influenced by a 2023 bill passed by California lawmakers, requiring human operators in autonomous trucks, which was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The DMV was left to establish the regulations.
Both Aurora and Kodiak previously operated in Texas, where they tested their systems in real-world conditions. Aurora began driverless freight operations in May 2025, connecting Fort Worth to El Paso and Laredo to Dallas. Kodiak started in January 2025, adapting their hardware and software to existing semi-trucks.
The rapid pace of development in this sector continues to outstrip regulatory debates.