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Autonomous trucking is taking another step toward mainstream adoption as Aurora Innovation, Inc. and McLane Company, Inc.—a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.—announce plans to begin fully driverless freight operations in Texas.
The companies will deploy Aurora’s SAE Level 4 self-driving system, known as the Aurora Driver, on long-haul routes between Dallas and Houston. The move follows a multi-year pilot program that began in 2023, during which the autonomous system logged more than 280,000 miles and completed approximately 1,400 deliveries. According to the companies, those runs achieved a 100% on-time performance record, helping build confidence for the transition to driverless operations.
McLane, one of the largest food and retail distributors in the United States, supplies restaurants, convenience stores, and mass merchants nationwide. By integrating autonomous trucks into its logistics network, the company aims to improve efficiency in transporting goods—particularly perishable food—while maintaining reliability across its operations.
The deployment will follow a hybrid logistics model. Autonomous trucks will handle the “middle mile,” or long-distance highway routes, operating continuously, while human drivers will continue to manage local deliveries and customer interactions. This structure allows the companies to incorporate automation without eliminating the role of drivers in last-mile service.
Executives from both companies emphasized the importance of safety and operational consistency. Aurora cited the pilot program’s safety performance and delivery reliability as key factors in expanding the partnership. McLane, meanwhile, highlighted the potential for autonomous technology to improve supply chain efficiency while allowing its workforce to focus on customer-facing responsibilities.
The initiative also reflects broader trends in the freight industry, where companies are exploring automation to address persistent labor shortages and rising demand for faster, more predictable delivery schedules. Autonomous trucks operating around the clock could provide more flexible capacity and reduce delays tied to driver availability or hours-of-service limits.
Aurora plans to expand driverless operations to additional routes connecting McLane distribution centers across the southern United States by the end of the year, with the possibility of broader deployment in the future.
© 2026 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.