Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a leader in AI-driven autonomous vehicle technology, has announced the delivery of two additional driverless trucks to Atlas Energy Solutions Inc., bringing Atlas’s fleet of Kodiak-equipped trucks to four. Along with this expansion, the companies have launched up to 24/7 autonomous operations, pausing only for essential tasks such as maintenance and refueling.
These latest additions are part of a larger 100-truck order from Atlas, which aims to automate key aspects of its logistics network. The autonomous trucks transport frac sand, which is initially moved by Atlas’s Dune Express—a 42-mile conveyor system—closer to well sites. From there, the driverless trucks carry the sand directly to customer locations throughout the Permian Basin, spanning regions of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.
"Our initial rollout of Kodiak Driver-powered driverless trucks represents a significant operational milestone in our autonomous strategy, creating a clear path to continue scaling our businesses together," said John Turner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Energy Solutions. "Kodiak's autonomous technology can meaningfully help us address challenges ranging from driver recruitment to demanding operating conditions. We plan to continue adding Kodiak Driver-powered trucks to our fleet, helping to strengthen our long-term competitiveness."
Since introducing the Kodiak Driver-powered fleet in December 2024, Atlas has completed over 800 autonomous deliveries and clocked more than 1,600 driverless service hours. The April announcement of Atlas’s commitment to purchase 100 trucks came after Kodiak met specific performance and operational benchmarks.
Kodiak’s solution is offered through a "Driver as a Service" model. Under this structure, customers pay per mile or per vehicle, which includes autonomous technology, operations, and ongoing system support. These driverless trucks are designed to function day and night, even in varying weather conditions.
"We continue to make rapid progress on the Kodiak Driver's core technology, enabling such critical features as night driving," said Don Burnette, Kodiak‘s founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Our work with Atlas demonstrates the Kodiak Driver's ability to provide value to commercial trucking customers. We believe the driverless operational experience we're gaining in the Permian Basin will position us to more efficiently scale our driverless operations across domains, including on-highway."