Kodiak AI and PrePass Automate Inspection Checks for Driverless Trucks in Texas and Louisiana
PrePass and Kodiak AI have launched a collaboration that feeds Enhanced Inspection data from Kodiak's autonomous trucks directly into state roadside screening systems, starting in Texas and Louisiana.
- more than 580
- up to 24 hours
- end of 2026
What Happened
PrePass, which provides weigh-station bypass, toll payment, safety and compliance services, and Kodiak AI, a provider of autonomous driving technology, announced a collaboration to integrate Enhanced Inspections of Kodiak's autonomous trucks into established state roadside screening and enforcement systems. The inspections are conducted by Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance-trained inspectors. Initial implementation begins today in Texas and Louisiana, and the companies say the collaboration paves the way for safe scaling of driverless commercial vehicle operations nationwide.
- Connects Enhanced Inspection information from Kodiak's autonomous trucks directly with enforcement personnel.
- Lets enforcement personnel verify the information, authorize bypass and provide additional instructions as needed.
- Uses the trusted PrePass platform to automate the bypass process.
- Builds on systems and infrastructure states already use rather than requiring them to replace proven technology.
- Gives state agencies a practical way to include autonomous trucks in existing safety and enforcement operations without creating a separate roadside process.
CVSA developed the Enhanced Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspection Program to support commercial vehicles equipped with automated driving systems. Under the program, a CVSA-trained inspector verifies that an autonomous commercial vehicle is free of safety defects before it begins driverless operations. A successful Enhanced Inspection remains valid for up to 24 hours, subject to applicable program requirements. The PrePass and Kodiak collaboration does not change or replace that process; it makes the resulting inspection information available through established roadside screening systems.
“The next barrier to scaling driverless trucking isn't inside the truck. It's the infrastructure around it. PrePass has spent years preparing for this future through federal research, collaboration with state agencies and continued investment in roadside screening technology. By working with Kodiak to advance driverless trucking into real-world commercial operations, PrePass is operationalizing the blueprint for what comes next: bringing states, roadside infrastructure and trusted data together to make autonomous operations work at scale.”
“Launching driverless service is not just about building technology. It's about building a solution that works in the real world. Our collaboration with PrePass is an important milestone as we prepare to launch long-haul driverless operations. It enables us to provide critical information to commercial vehicle enforcement agencies, maintain compliance with safety requirements and scale the Kodiak Driver across the United States. PrePass' nationwide footprint, established relationships with state agencies and ability to integrate emerging vehicle technologies make it an important partner in that effort.”
“CVSA welcomes this collaboration between PrePass and Kodiak AI to support the implementation of CVSA's Enhanced Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspection Program for autonomous trucks. As commercial motor vehicle technologies continue to advance, inspection and enforcement processes must evolve with them while maintaining a strong focus on transportation safety.”
580+locations
inspection and screening sites nationwide that the collaboration can build on
Previously from Kodiak Robotics, Inc.
This collaboration is the latest step in Kodiak's push toward highway driverless service. In September 2026 the company said its driverless long-haul safety case was 93% complete, keeping it on target to launch commercial service on public highways without a driver in the cab by the end of 2026.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Kodiak Robotics, Inc.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Driverless trucks still have to clear the roadside checks that states run on commercial vehicles, and this collaboration gives autonomous operators a way to do that inside the systems enforcement agencies already use rather than a separate process. It affects state enforcement agencies, trucking fleets, and Kodiak's plan to begin driverless commercial operations on public highways by the end of this year.
Terms in This Story
- Weigh-station bypass
- A system that lets approved trucks pass inspection and weigh stations without stopping, based on compliance data already on file.
- CVSA
- The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, an organization of commercial vehicle safety agencies and industry members that runs inspection programs and standards.
- Automated driving systems
- Vehicle systems that can perform part or all of the driving task without a human driver.
- Enhanced Inspections
- A CVSA program under which trained inspectors verify that a commercial vehicle equipped with automated driving systems is free of safety defects before it begins driverless operations.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.