Self-driving sand-hauler trucks roll into the Basin: A look at the new AI fleet

Yahoo

10-03-2025

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The rumble of sand-hauling trucks is a familiar sound in the Permian Basin, but soon, that sound may come without a driver behind the wheel. In a groundbreaking shift for the oil industry, self-driving semi-trucks are now hauling frac sand across West Texas, marking the arrival of autonomous trucking technology in one of the most demanding oilfields in the world.
Atlas Energy Solutions, a major sand provider in the Basin, partnered with Kodiak Robotics to launch the first fully autonomous sand-hauling operation in the U.S. oil and gas industry.
And the new technology is already on the roads, specifically, on private lease roads, where these driverless RoboTrucks are moving fracking sand across the Basin, making deliveries for Atlas Energy Solutions. With a growing fleet and an Odessa-based support facility, Kodiak Robotics is at the forefront of this industry-changing innovation.
Kodiak's autonomous trucks operate without a human driver, using 13 cameras, six radar sensors, and four LiDAR units to continuously monitor the truck's surroundings and make real-time driving decisions. These self-driving systems are designed to improve efficiency and reduce the high number of trucking accidents in the Permian Basin, an area known for its dangerous roads.
Daniel Goff, Director of External Affairs at Kodiak, sat down with us to discuss how this emerging technology is taking hold in Odessa and what it means for safety, jobs, and the future of trucking.
'Driving in the Permian is tough. It's a dangerous job, and driver fatigue is a big issue. These trucks don't get tired, don't get distracted, and don't speed to make more loads. That alone makes a difference,' Goff said.
WATCH: Goff explains what it's like being inside the Robotrucks in action
With the introduction of self-driving trucks, some might fear that human truck drivers will be phased out. But Kodiak says that's not the case.
According to Goff, there is already a severe truck driver shortage, with the American Trucking Association estimating a 60,000-driver gap nationwide. As older truckers retire, automation can help fill the gap without eliminating jobs.
'We're not here to take jobs…we're here to help meet the demand. Autonomous trucking will ease the strain on the industry and actually create new jobs,' Goff explained.
WATCH: Goff discusses the shortage of truck drivers and how the tech will help:
Kodiak has opened a facility in Odessa, hiring 12 employees with plans to expand to 20 or more by the end of Q1 2025. These jobs focus on maintaining and monitoring the self-driving fleet, proving that automation doesn't necessarily mean job loss—it means job evolution.
According to the Permian Road Safety Coalition, the Basin is no stranger to high accident rates. Between 2018 and 2022, there were 14.7 fatal accidents per 1,000 crashes in the region, nearly double the Texas state average. A significant number of these crashes involved sand-hauling trucks, which often run 24/7 on tight schedules, leading to fatigue-related accidents.
Kodiak's RoboTrucks are designed to reduce these risks by maintaining steady speeds, eliminating human error, and operating with constant surveillance of their surroundings. Unlike human drivers, these trucks never weave in and out of traffic, don't speed to make more loads, and don't suffer from exhaustion.
For now, the trucks are limited to private lease roads, hauling frac sand from storage facilities to wellheads. But as Kodiak continues its expansion, highway testing is already in the works, signaling a future where these driverless trucks could be seen beyond oilfield routes.
This new wave of automation isn't stopping with self-driving trucks. Atlas Energy Solutions is also launching the Dune Express, a 42-mile-long, fully electric conveyor system that will transport sand from Kermit, Texas, to a loadout facility in New Mexico.
By using both the conveyor system and autonomous trucks, Atlas aims to eliminate millions of truck miles on public roads, reducing traffic congestion and improving safety in the Permian Basin.
'This is about innovation, safety, and efficiency. The combination of autonomous trucks and the Dune Express puts us at the cutting edge of oilfield logistics,' said John Turner, CEO of Atlas Energy Solutions.
With its Odessa-based operations growing and driverless trucks already making deliveries, Kodiak Robotics is making West Texas a hub for autonomous trucking innovation.
WATCH: Goff shares his excitement on the launch in the Basin:
Skepticism around self-driving vehicles remains, but Goff believes the public's perception will shift as they see these trucks in action.
'I completely understand why people might be skeptical at first. But these are some of the most tested, best-understood vehicles ever built. We take safety very seriously. That is why our customers are very excited to work with us. As people see them working safely, they get used to it pretty quickly,' he said.
As more self-driving technology is introduced in Odessa and the greater Permian Basin, local workers, oilfield companies, and communities will be watching closely.
For now, one thing is clear: Odessa and the Permian Basin are at the center of one of the biggest shifts in oilfield logistics history.
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