Articles · Driverless vehicles
Two names hold 74 percent of the 3,164 automated vehicles on the TxDMV report
The state's first report on driverless authorizations lists 17 companies. Two of them, Waymo and Tesla Robotaxi, account for most of the vehicles.
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Since May 28th, 2026, every company operating automated vehicles commercially on Texas roads must hold an active authorization from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. The requirement comes from Senate Bill 2807, passed by the Legislature in 89. The department defines commercial activity as carrying property or passengers for a commercial enterprise without a human driver.
The department's Company and Vehicle Summary Report carries data as of October 29th, 2026. It lists 17 companies and counts 3,164 automated vehicles. Its source is the department's motor carrier credentialing system, where each holder keeps its own list of active vehicles, adding and deleting them against its authorization.
Two names, then a long tail
Waymo lists 1,259 vehicles and Tesla Robotaxi 1,080. Avride is third with 344, then Aurora with 91.
Below them the counts fall quickly. Gatik lists 64, Zoox 63 and Nuro 47. Kodiak lists 36, Bot Auto 13, Waabi 13, MOIA 12 and PlusAI 12. International Transport Eng, the smallest entry, lists 7.
The report also lists Atlas Energy Solutions, through Fountainhead Logistics, with 38. The report gives counts by company and names no routes, cities or vehicle types, so it doesn't say where any of these vehicles run.
What the authorization asks
The online application asks for basic contact information, and the applicant acknowledges a written statement about the vehicle. The applicant must also certify that the Department of Public Safety has a copy of its plan for emergency services. The plan covers how firefighters, police, ambulance crews and other emergency services should deal with the vehicle.
There is no fee. An authorization doesn't expire and stays valid until the department revokes it. A holder must report a material change, including adding a vehicle, within 30 days.
In comments on the rules, the City of Dallas asked the department to require crash history and to make information about approved operators publicly accessible. The department answered that sections 545.453 and 545.456 of the Transportation Code don't allow it to require crash history. It said whether it publishes information about holders depends on confidentiality rules in Government Code Chapter 552. The City of Austin asked for a sticker or placard on each permitted vehicle, and the department declined it as outside the scope of its rulemaking.
Where enforcement starts
The department treats an operation as endangering the public when it has caused serious bodily injury or is likely to. It says it is unlikely to take administrative enforcement action below that standard. Before acting, it notifies the holder and gives it a set period to fix the problem. On the road, the Department of Public Safety and local police enforce traffic law, and automated vehicles answer to the same traffic laws as any other vehicle.
A concern that an automated vehicle could cause serious bodily injury or death can be sent to the department's Enforcement Division. Law enforcement officials can check a vehicle's or an operator's authorization status on the same system. No fetched source says whether a member of the public can look one up.
Who still sits up front
Volvo says its autonomous hauls with Waabi between Dallas and Houston run with an observer in the driver's seat. Kodiak AI and Charger USA say their trucks between Dallas and Laredo run with a safety driver behind the wheel. The two companies say they intend to go driverless once Kodiak completes its safety case. Kodiak also says its trucks in the Permian Basin have run in commercial service with no one in the cab since December 2024. The Volvo and Kodiak releases don't say how these runs relate to the state's report, and the report doesn't say how many of its listed vehicles run with nobody aboard.
Sources for this story
- TxDMV Company and Vehicle Summary Report, data as of 10/29/2026
- TxDMV Automated Vehicles Regulatory Program page
- TxDMV adoption of 43 TAC Chapter 220, Automated Motor Vehicles (Exhibit A, 9/18/25)
- Volvo Group press release, Volvo and Waabi kick off customer operations in Texas, starting with Warp, October 5, 2026
- Kodiak AI press release, Kodiak AI and Charger USA Launch Autonomous Trucking Between Dallas and Laredo, October 8, 2026
Claim-by-claim verification · 68 claims
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Aurora Operations Inc. dba Aurora with 91 automated motor vehicles.
Aurora Operations Inc. dba Aurora 91
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Avride with 344 automated motor vehicles.
Avride 344 Bot Auto TX
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Bot Auto TX Inc. with 13 automated motor vehicles.
Bot Auto TX Inc. 13
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Fountainhead Logistics LLC dba Atlas Energy Solutions with 38 automated motor vehicles.
Fountainhead Logistics LLC dba Atlas Energy Solutions 38
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Gatik AI Incorporated with 64 automated motor vehicles.
Gatik AI Incorporated 64
The October 29th, 2026 report lists International Transport Engineering LLC dba International Transport Eng with 7 automated motor vehicles.
International Transport Engineering LLC dba International Transport Eng 7
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Kodiak Robotics Inc. with 36 automated motor vehicles.
Kodiak Robotics Inc. 36
The October 29th, 2026 report lists May Mobility Inc. with 22 automated motor vehicles.
May Mobility Inc. 22
The October 29th, 2026 report lists MOIA America with 12 automated motor vehicles.
MOIA America 12 Nuro Inc.
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Nuro Inc. dba Nuro with 47 automated motor vehicles.
Nuro Inc. dba Nuro 47
The October 29th, 2026 report lists PlusAI Inc. with 12 automated motor vehicles.
PlusAI Inc. 12 Stack Opco LLC
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Stack Opco LLC with 31 automated motor vehicles.
Stack Opco LLC 31
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Tesla Robotaxi, LLC dba Tesla Robotaxi, LLC with 1,080 automated motor vehicles.
Tesla Robotaxi, LLC dba Tesla Robotaxi, LLC 1,080
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Torc Robotics Inc. with 32 automated motor vehicles.
Torc Robotics Inc. 32
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Waabi Logistics Inc. with 13 automated motor vehicles.
Waabi Logistics Inc. 13
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Waymo LLC dba Waymo LLC with 1,259 automated motor vehicles.
Waymo LLC dba Waymo LLC 1,259
The October 29th, 2026 report lists Zoox, Inc. with 63 automated motor vehicles.
dba Waymo LLC 1,259 Zoox, Inc. 63
The October 29th, 2026 report counts 17 companies in total.
Total Companies: 17 Total Automated
The October 29th, 2026 report counts 3,164 automated vehicles in total.
Total Automated Vehicles: 3,164
The Company and Vehicle Summary Report carries data as of October 29th, 2026.
Data as of: 10/29/2026
The report names the department's Texas Motor Carrier Credentialing System as its source.
Source: TxDMV Texas Motor Carrier Credentialing System (TxMCCS)
The 89th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2807 in 2025. The bill created a required authorization for the commercial operation of automated vehicles on Texas roads.
The 89th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2807 (89R) in 2025 creating a required authorization for the commercial operation of automated vehicles on Texas roads.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has the administrative authority to issue and revoke automated vehicle authorizations.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) has administrative authority to issue and revoke these authorizations
On the road, enforcement belongs to the Texas Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies.
the Texas Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies have authority over on road enforcement of the operations and adherence to traffic laws
Senate Bill 2807 took effect on September 1st, 2025.
Senate Bill 2807 (89R) became effective September 1, 2025
From May 28th, 2026, every company operating automated vehicles commercially must hold an active authorization from the department.
All companies operating automated vehicles commercially on or after May 28, 2026, are required to maintain an active authorization with TxDMV.
The department defines commercial activity as operating an automated motor vehicle to carry property or passengers for a commercial enterprise on Texas roads without a human driver.
Operation of an automated motor vehicle to transport property or passengers in furtherance of a commercial enterprise on Texas roads without a human driver.
Vehicles owned by individuals and used for personal purposes need no authorization.
Individually owned vehicles, operated for personal use, do not require an authorization.
The online application asks for basic contact information about the applicant.
The electronic application form requires basic applicant contact information.
The applicant also acknowledges a written statement about the vehicle.
The applicant must also acknowledge a written statement that the vehicle is:
Applicants must certify that the Texas Department of Public Safety has a copy of their plan for emergency services. The plan says how firefighters, police, ambulance crews and others should interact with the vehicle.
The applicant must also certify that the Texas Department of Public Safety has been provided a copy of the plan specifying how a person who provides firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services should interact with the automated motor vehicle
The authorization to operate automated vehicles carries no fee.
No fees are required for an authorization to operate automated vehicles.
An authorization never expires. It stays valid until the department revokes it.
Authorizations do not expire and are valid until revoked by the department.
An authorization holder must tell the department about any material change to its application information within 30 days.
An authorization holder is required to update the department of any material changes to the information provided at the time of application within 30 days of the change.
Once approved, the authorization holder keeps its own list of active vehicles by adding and deleting the vehicles connected to its authorization.
the applicant will be able to maintain the listing of their active vehicles by adding and deleting specific vehicles connected to the authorization.
From May 28th, 2026, concerns about automated vehicles that could cause serious bodily injury or death can go to the department's Enforcement Division. The route is its TxMCCS truck stop page.
concerns about automated vehicles operating in ways that could result in serious bodily injury or death can be submitted to the TxDMV Enforcement Division for review at https://txmccs.txdmv.gov/truckstop
The department says it is unlikely to take administrative enforcement action in cases that fall below the serious bodily injury or death standard of Texas Penal Code Section 1.07.
The department is unlikely to take administrative enforcement action in cases that do not meet this standard as defined by Texas Penal Code, Section 1.07.
The department treats an automated vehicle's operation as endangering the public when it has caused serious bodily injury or is likely to, as Texas Penal Code Section 1.07 defines it.
The operation of an automated motor vehicle is considered to endanger the public when the operation has resulted, or is likely to result, in serious bodily injury as defined by Section 1.07, Texas Penal Code.
Before it takes enforcement action, the department notifies the holder and gives it a set period to correct the public safety concern.
provides the authorization holder a specific period of time to correct the identified public safety concern
When a holder appeals to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the hearing must be held within 60 days of the department's request.
the hearing must be held within 60 days of the request filed by the department
If that hearing isn't held in time, the authorization is reinstated immediately.
If the hearing is not held within the required time, then the authorization is immediately reinstated.
Law enforcement officials can check the authorization status of individual vehicles or operators on the department's TxMCCS truck stop page.
Law enforcement officials can verify the TxDMV AV authorization status of individual vehicles or operators at https://txmccs.txdmv.gov/truckstop
The program page links an authorizations report dated October 29th, 2026.
AV Authorizations October 29, 2026
Automated vehicles answer to the same traffic laws and public safety standards as every other vehicle.
Automated vehicles are subject to the same traffic laws and public safety standards as any other vehicle.
The department received nine timely written comments on its proposed automated motor vehicle rules.
The department received nine timely written comments on the proposal.
The commenters included one individual, the City of Austin and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
one individual, the City of Austin, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation
The City of Dallas and May Mobility also submitted written comments.
the City of Dallas, and May Mobility, Inc. (May Mobility).
Torc, Lyft, Stack and AVIA supported the department's proposed rules.
Torc, Lyft, Stack, and AVIA support the department’s proposed rules.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation supported the proposed rules at a high level.
At a high level, Auto Innovators supports the department’s proposed rules to implement SB
The City of Dallas asked the department to require robust safety documentation, including crash history and proof of community stakeholder coordination. It also asked that information about approved operators be made publicly accessible.
The City of Dallas encourages the department to require robust safety documentation,
The department answered that Transportation Code sections 545.453 and 545.456 don't allow it to require authorization holders to submit crash history or proof of community stakeholder coordination.
Transportation Code, § 545.453 and § 545.456 do not allow the department to
The department said whether it makes information about authorization holders publicly accessible depends on confidentiality requirements in Government Code Chapter 552 and other statutes. It said that question doesn't belong in an administrative rule.
whether the department makes information about authorization holders publicly accessible is based
The City of Dallas called for strong safeguards to quickly suspend or revoke an authorization when safety is compromised.
The City of Dallas believes there must be strong safeguards to quickly suspend or revoke an
In reply the department cited its power under Transportation Code section 545.456 to immediately suspend, revoke or cancel an authorization when the holder fails to update documents it previously provided.
authorizes the department to immediately suspend, revoke, or cancel an authorization for the
Under Transportation Code section 545.451 a human driver is a natural person in an automated motor vehicle who controls all or part of the dynamic driving task.
Transportation Code, §545.451 defines the term “human driver” to mean “a natural person in an
The department said a remote operator who isn't in the vehicle doesn't fit the statutory definition of a human driver.
operator who is not in the vehicle does not fit within the statutory definition of “human driver.”
Under the adopted rule, adding another vehicle is a material change that the holder must report by the 30th day after it happens.
including, but not limited to, the addition of another vehicle.
When the department asks for an updated or current document, the holder has five days to supply it unless the department grants an extension.
current document is five days from the date of the department’s request, unless the department
The City of Austin asked the rules to spell out what data must be reported to local jurisdictions, including routes and collisions reported under the federal Standing General Order. The department declined as outside its rulemaking authority.
The City of Austin recommends that the proposed rules clarify what data, if any, must be
The City of Austin asked for an identifier such as a sticker or placard on each permitted autonomous vehicle. The department declined as outside its rulemaking authority.
The City of Austin recommends requiring an identifier (such as a sticker or placard) to be
Chapter 220 of the department's rules took effect on February 27th, 2026.
The effective date of Chapter 220 is February 27, 2026
Volvo Group said on October 5th, 2026 that its autonomous hauls with Waabi currently run with an observer in the driver's seat.
Currently autonomous hauls are run with an observer in the driver’s seat.
Volvo Group says the Volvo VNL Autonomous powered by the Waabi Driver is hauling freight to third-party facilities along the Dallas to Houston corridor.
The Volvo VNL Autonomous powered by the Waabi Driver is now transporting freight directly to third-party facilities along the Dallas–Houston corridor.
Kodiak AI and Charger USA said on October 8th, 2026 that they are operating with a safety driver behind the wheel.
Today, the companies are operating with a safety driver behind the wheel.
Kodiak says trucks running the Kodiak Driver haul freight on the 435-mile lane between Charger's terminals in Dallas and Laredo.
on the 435-mile lane between Charger’s terminals in Dallas and Laredo, Texas
The two companies say they intend to switch the lane to driverless operation once Kodiak completes its safety case.
The companies intend to transition the lane to driverless operations once Kodiak completes its safety case.
Kodiak says it completed its first delivery with Charger on September 8th, 2026.
Kodiak and Charger completed their first delivery on September 8, 2026.
Kodiak says its trucks have run in commercial service in the Permian Basin with no one in the cab since December 2024.
Kodiak's driverless technology has been deployed in commercial service in the Permian Basin since December 2024, where customer-owned trucks operate with no one in the cab.