Volvo Plans Driverless Trucks on Texas Roads by 2027

Volvo Trucks unveiled its new VNX heavy‑haul line at a factory in Pennsylvania, showing versions that can mix cement, haul logs, carry coal, and move gravel under tough conditions. The Class‑8 tractors are powered by a D13 diesel engine that delivers 540 horsepower and 1,950 lb‑ft of torque, and some models can lift up to 200,000 pounds. Production is slated for mid‑2027.

On the job site, the VNX can be driven by a single operator who uses a handheld controller that mimics a game console. The remote‑steer system lets workers position mixers, cranes, and other heavy gear with precision at speeds up to five miles per hour. The trucks also connect to a 4G telematics gateway that reports fuel use, location and safety data in real time.

Volvo and its partner Aurora plan to put driverless VNL trucks on Texas roads in the first quarter of 2027, using Level 4 technology that does not require a safety driver. The company aims to have 300 autonomous trucks moving freight between hubs such as Dallas–Houston, Fort Worth–El Paso and Dallas–Oklahoma City by the end of the year, with plans to scale to $3 billion in autonomous revenue over the next five years.

Beyond Texas, Volvo expects to start driverless operations in Arizona in the second half of 2027 and to expand into other hubs, including San Antonio, Laredo, and Atlanta. The autonomous program is already running in Norway, where VNX trucks have hauled more than a million tons of limestone, and the company plans further growth in Europe. Partners such as DHL, DSV and Uber Freight will help carry the freight.