Bot Auto Masters First Public Roads Validation in Houston

Bot Auto took another step forward earlier this summer, carrying out its first driverless hub-to-hub validation run on public roads in the Houston area, the autonomous trucking startup said Sept. 16.

The 40-mile-or-so validation run over a 55-minute time span — including on interstates 10 and 90 — took place July 17 under real-world conditions with no one in the cab or remote assistance.

Taking place at sunset, Bot Auto sought to achieve successful day and night operation.

Bot Auto’s driverless trucks are Freightliner tractors retrofitted with its self-driving technology and extra safety components.

“This validation run is proof that our system is maturing quickly, but it is only the beginning,” said Xiaodi Hou, the company’s CEO and founder. “True success is to continue iterating until autonomy delivers cost-per-mile below human levels. At Bot Auto, humanless means no human — not in the driver’s seat, not in the back seat and not behind a remote joystick.”

Bot Auto said the company’s next move is its first commercial cargo run between its Houston and San Antonio hubs in the coming months.

Before the July validation run, Bot Auto conducted a comprehensive end-to-end safety verification and validation for what it termed the “defined operational domain.”

And in June, San Antonio-headquartered Steves & Sons began a pilot program testing Bot Auto’s retrofitted Freightliner tractors alongside its managed logistics provider, J.B. Hunt Transport Services.

The first routes Bot Auto, which operates a transportation-as-a-service business model, will run for Steves & Sons will be between San Antonio and Dallas and Houston. The pilot is focusing on streamlining plant-to-customer transfers and improving logistical planning and execution.

Bot Auto offers Level 4 autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicles are classified in levels 1 to 5. Level 4 does not require human interaction in most circumstances, but a driver can still manually override systems.

Bot Auto offers Level 4 autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicles are classified in levels 1 to 5. Level 4 does not require human interaction in most circumstances, but a driver can still manually override systems. (Bot Auto)

Hou founded Bot Auto in 2023. The former TuSimple CEO broke cover on the venture in September 2024. Hou, who twice departed the now China-based TuSimple amid controversy, is joined at Bot Auto by several former TuSimple colleagues.

Unlike many of its self-driving truck peers, Bot Auto is offering a TaaS business model rather than partnering with a truck manufacturer on factory installation of the technology. In effect, the company becomes a motor carrier with autonomous trucks it retrofits, maintains and operates.

One peer, PlusAI, just began customer fleet trials along the I-35 corridor between Laredo, Texas, and Dallas alongside truck manufacturer International Motors, the companies said Sept. 8.

Another, Daimler Truck subsidiary Torc Robotics, began testing its own autonomous trucks on the freight lane between Laredo and Dallas in the spring, the company said in April. Torc’s autonomous trucks were being tested on routes in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona already. Torc expects to start commercial fully driverless operations in 2027.

Aurora Innovation began driverless operations between Dallas and Houston in July, the company said.

Pittsburgh-based Aurora, which is working with both Paccar and Volvo Group, laid claim to being the first of its peers to launch fully driverless commercial operations in May, an assertion it later had to walk back after Paccar requested a driver in the cab.