The deployment marks the first time frac sand will be hauled autonomously on public roads and highways in the Texas Permian Basin. It also establishes one of Aurora’s initial routes between customer sites, a key milestone as the company expands its network beyond terminal-to-terminal operations in 2026.
Detmar says it wants to be a leader in the use of sustainable fuel and electrification technology in the trucking and logistics industry.
“Launching autonomous highway operations for Detmar is a great example of how we’re delivering immediate customer value,” said Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO of Aurora. “With the Aurora Driver, Detmar can achieve nearly 24/7 asset utilisation and effectively double its capacity to move sand for a leading energy producer.”
Supervised autonomous operations between Detmar’s facility in Midland, Texas and Capital Sand’s mining site in Monahans will begin early next year. Once Aurora deploys its second fleet of driverless trucks, expected in the second quarter of 2026, trips for Detmar will transition to driverless operations without anyone onboard.
The route combines high-speed driving on Interstate 20 with local and private roads surrounding Detmar’s facility and the mining site. Notably, Aurora is delivering advanced capabilities at the mining site, including autonomously navigating overhead filling silos for proppant loading.
The Aurora Driver is claimed to be able to operate longer than human drivers, never gets drowsy, and vigilantly monitors 360 degs around the truck. Enhancing road safety is particularly critical in the Permian Basin, which experiences a higher rate of severe and fatal crashes than the rest of Texas.
Under the initial contract, Detmar commits to using 30 Aurora Driver-powered trucks in 2026, with each unit hauling sand for more than 20 hours a day. This will unlock a level of asset utilisation that enables Detmar to grow its business with key customers.