Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI have received permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test their self-driving truck technology on public roads. Aurora launched its service in Texas last year but has now set its sights westward.

Kodiak, which began operations in West Texas, is expanding into California’s highways. The new rules, approved earlier this year, allow for testing and deployment of autonomous heavy-duty vehicles.

Both companies met the DMV’s permitting criteria, including safety measures and insurance policies. However, the tests come with restrictions: a human safety operator must be on board and they can’t operate on roads where the speed limit is 25mph or less, unless it’s a direct route between destinations.

Despite these conditions, opposition remains high. The Teamsters California union has sued the state’s DMV, alleging procedural irregularities in allowing self-driving trucks on public roads and failure to consider safety risks.

This move paves the way for autonomous vehicle developers to test and eventually deploy their technology within their home territories, potentially revolutionising long-distance haulage. Only time will tell if these AI-driven lorries become a common sight or remain an occasional curiosity on California's highways.