Aurora lands McLane deal for driverless truck routes in Texas

Aurora Innovation has secured a commercial agreement with distribution giant McLane to haul loads using autonomous trucks, marking a significant step in its transition from a technology developer to a commercial operator. Under the agreement, which was announced on Wednesday, trucks outfitted with Aurora’s self-driving system will transport goods between Dallas and Houston. These operations will run without a human safety driver on board who can take over. The commercial contract follows a pilot program launched in 2023 between the two companies, which initially utilized autonomous trucks with a human safety operator before expanding to two daily round-trips.

McLane recently approved the transition to driverless operations, which now run seven days a week between Dallas and Houston. Although the trucks operate autonomously, Aurora continues to place a “human observer” in the cab—who does not operate the vehicle—to satisfy an existing agreement with truck manufacturer Paccar. The companies are taking a novel approach to this route, using Aurora’s driverless tech for the long-haul portion of the trip before handing it over to a McLane truck driver who makes local deliveries to customers like fast food restaurants. Aurora said this handoff occurs at the company’s Dallas and Houston terminals, which are located right off the freeway.

The partnership is part of a broader commercial expansion for Aurora, which plans to expand to new routes between McLane distribution centers across the U.S. Sun Belt by the end of the year. Beyond its work with McLane, Aurora is scaling its commercial footprint in Texas, where it already operates routes between Fort Worth and El Paso, El Paso and Phoenix, Fort Worth and Phoenix, and Laredo and Dallas. The company previously secured a commercial agreement to haul sand used in hydraulic fracturing for Detmar Logistics. Additionally, an agreement with Hirschbach Motor Lines to purchase 500 Aurora-powered trucks—which is outlined in a memorandum of understanding—is expected to close later this year.

Why it matters

This commercial contract is a critical milestone for Aurora as it attempts to transition from a technology developer into a commercial operator earning revenue on its driverless routes.