One of the largest private U.S. fleets to begin driverless trucking hauls in Texas

Aurora Innovation, Inc. will partner with a major restaurant distributor to begin driverless trucking operations in Texas.

On May 6, 2026, Aurora announced an agreement with McLane Company, Inc., one of America’s largest private fleets, to transition to driverless commercial operations on a route between Dallas and Houston, Texas.

The companies are planning to expand to new routes between McLane distribution centers across the U.S. Sun Belt by the end of 2026.

Aurora says that McLane will use a hybrid model in which autonomous driving technology takes over for the “long-haul middle mile,” and human drivers are responsible for final mile deliveries.

“Autonomous trucks moving refrigerated hauls 24/7 offer scalable, reliable capacity that can flex with demand—bringing greater efficiency to operations and helping address ongoing labor constraints. By supporting more consistent transit schedules and dependable middle-mile coverage, the Aurora Driver helps keep freight moving smoothly,” Aurora said in a news release.

The companies have been participating in a “supervised autonomy pilot” since 2023. As part of that pilot, trucks with Aurora’s technology traveled over 280,000 autonomous miles in Texas and delivered 1,400 loads for McLane. Aurora said that the pilot resulted in a 100% on-time delivery rate for McLane.

“The business of moving food is essential to our economy and our way of life. With a 134-year legacy, McLane is deeply woven into the American distribution industry,” said Ossa Fisher, president at Aurora. “We’re excited to enter the next chapter with McLane and transform the American food supply chain with autonomous trucks. Our collective momentum in logistics is palpable.”

“We’ve been thoroughly impressed with Aurora’s technology, exceptional safety performance and commitment to operational excellence,” said Susan Adzick, president of McLane Restaurant. “Autonomous technology helps us drive greater efficiency across the supply chain, while our drivers remain focused on the critical last mile—and continuing to serve as the face of our company to customers.”

McLane is a Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. subsidiary.

Late last month, Aurora announced a separate agreement with refrigerated carrier Hirschbach Motor Lines to purchase 500 Aurora Driver-powered trucks, with delivery beginning next year.