Kodiak AI Signs First Commercial Contract for Public Highway Autonomous Trucks with DTL Transport
Kodiak AI secures its first binding commercial deal for on-highway driverless trucks, signaling a shift to an asset-light licensing model.
US-based autonomous trucking startup Kodiak AI has announced its first binding commercial contract for driverless heavy-duty trucks operating on public highways. Under the agreement, Kodiak will deliver 75 self-driving trucks to mid-market freight carrier DTL Transport starting in 2028. The deal comes just ahead of Kodiak's planned milestone in December to remove human safety operators from the cab and launch fully driverless highway services.
This contract marks a significant pivot in Kodiak's business model. Previously, the company primarily operated under a "Trucking-as-a-Service" (TaaS) model, where Kodiak owned and operated the trucks to haul goods for other companies. The new deal with DTL Transport utilizes a "Driver-as-a-Service" (DaaS) model, where the customer owns and operates the vehicles while Kodiak licenses its technology for a per-mile fee. DTL Transport, a California-based carrier serving grocery chains, plans to deploy these trucks on interstate routes including Dallas to El Paso and Dallas to Atlanta.
Kodiak founder and CEO Don Burnette told TechCrunch in an exclusive interview that partnering with mid-market carriers allows for faster execution and easier fleet integration, calling it a turning point for the self-driving industry. While Burnette stated the deal would provide a revenue boost, the specific contract value remains undisclosed. Based on Kodiak's 2025 investor presentation, which forecasts annual recurring revenue of $150,000 to $190,000 per truck, the 75-unit order could potentially generate approximately $11.2 million in annual recurring revenue once fully delivered.
Kodiak went public in September 2025, but its shares have fallen 87% from their opening-day price. This transaction supports the company's strategic goal of becoming an "asset-light" technology supplier, a path also pursued by competitor Aurora Innovation. Currently, Kodiak conducts pilot operations for TaaS customers in Texas and provides off-road DaaS services to Atlas Energy Solutions in the Permian Basin.