A number of significant developments have taken place over the past three years since ACT Research published our inaugural study on autonomy for commercial vehicles: “Driving Automation – Commercial Transportation’s Pursuit of Level 4 Autonomy”.
Over the past nine months of 2025, it seems nearly every major OEM and autonomous vehicle (AV) system developer focused on the truck market have announced significant advancements in their autonomous commercial vehicle (ACV) programs. In January of this year, SAE Level 4 driver-out trucks powered by Kodiak Robotics’ self-driving technology began operating in the Permian Basin, servicing Texas oil field operations. The Texas Triangle, a region covering freight routes between Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio along I-10, I-35, and I-45, has become the center of activity, with SAE Level 4 Class 8 tractors pulling full loads, proving that the technology works. There, Aurora conducted driverless customer deliveries in May. In September, Bot Auto completed its first human-less hub-to-hub validation run on I-10. Also in September, International, in partnership with PlusAI, launched customer fleet trials between Laredo and Dallas. These are just a handful of big steps forward taken by the OEM and AV systems developers this year alone.
Years ago, a driver-out Class 8 tractor may have seemed like an impossible dream, but the innovators in our industry are proving that dreams can come true.
Coming Soon: ACT Research's Latest Driving Automation Report
As autonomy moves from concept to reality, ACT Research’s Driving Automation report provides the industry’s most comprehensive analysis of when, where, and how Level 4 trucks will scale. Built on ACT’s trusted Class 8 demand models, proprietary economic forecasts, and insights from OEMs, fleets, and technology developers, this report is a one-stop resource to help you understand adoption timelines, market impacts, and business opportunities.
Free Live Expert Session: Tuesday, November 18th, 2025
Join ACT Research experts Ann Rundle and Lydia Vieth, along with a panel of industry leaders, for a live virtual event unpacking what automation means for manufacturing, fleets, and logistics. This live expert session will feature exclusive insights from ACT’s Driving Automation report update, a panel of industry leaders, a data deep dive, and small-group discussions.