Two autonomous trucking developers reported operational milestones during the week of September 21 to 25, 2026, according to FleetOwner. Kodiak completed its first deliveries under a California Department of Motor Vehicles autonomous testing approval, moving perishable freight roughly 225 miles from Fresno to Los Angeles in partnership with DTL Transport. Separately, Waabi ran its autonomous driving system on a Dallas to San Antonio route without relying on additional real world data collection, simulation runs, or engineering fine tuning for that specific corridor, the company said.
The developments came alongside a wave of driver pay increases across several US carriers responding to tight hiring conditions. K&B Transportation raised over the road driver compensation from $0.70 to $0.82 per mile. ATS increased regional van rates by 16 percent, bringing them to $0.70 per mile. Roehl Transport also announced a pay increase, though it did not disclose specific rate figures.
The pay adjustments reflect ongoing competition among carriers for qualified drivers even as parts of the freight market remain soft in other respects. Combined with the autonomous vehicle progress in California and Texas, the developments illustrate how fleets are pursuing both technology and compensation strategies to address capacity and labor needs heading into the fourth quarter.
Source: FleetOwner -- https://www.fleetowner.com/news/podcast/55407653/this-week-in-trucking-autonomous-trucks-expand-driver-pay-balloons