Kodiak will supply 75 driverless trucks to DTL Transport
Kodiak AI has signed its first binding deal to supply self-driving trucks for public highways, with deliveries to DTL Transport starting in 2028.
The facts
- According to TechCrunch, Kodiak AI will deliver 75 self-driving trucks to DTL Transport from 2028. It is the company's first binding commercial deal for driverless big rigs on public highways.
- Kodiak plans to remove human safety operators and launch a driverless highway service in December, carrying goods for Ikea between Dallas and Houston on Interstate 45.
- The value of the DTL deal was not disclosed. TechCrunch estimates at least about $11.2 million in annual recurring revenue once all 75 trucks are delivered. That figure rests on forecasts in Kodiak's 2025 investor presentation, including $150,000 to $190,000 per truck.
- TechCrunch reports Kodiak's shares have fallen 87% from their opening-day price, and that its current freight operations for customers are still at pilot stage.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
The interesting part is the business model, not the trucks. Kodiak wants to licence its driving system and charge by the mile, rather than run a trucking company itself. That is a software business, and it only works if customers trust the system enough to put it in their own fleets. One binding contract is not proof of that. It is the first piece of evidence.
For traders
Kodiak is listed, and TechCrunch says the stock is down 87% since its first day. Watch whether the December driverless launch happens on schedule and whether real per-truck revenue shows up in filings. A forecast in a 2025 deck is a projection, not income.
For builders
Pay-per-mile licensing to mid-market carriers shows where the money may sit: integration, safety validation and fleet tooling around the driver software. Smaller operators move faster than giants, and that is where early deployments are landing.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from TechCrunch's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.