Texas and Louisiana to Launch New Driverless Truck Inspection Process

A new process for driverless trucks that enables enforcement personnel to verify inspection information, authorize bypassing inspection stations, and provide additional instructions when necessary, will begin to be implemented in Texas and Louisiana. PrePass, a company that provides solutions for bypassing weigh stations, weigh payment, safety, and regulatory compliance, recently integrated Kodiak AI’s enhanced inspection information into existing state roadside enforcement and inspection systems.

Using its platform to connect inspection information with enforcement personnel, the PrePass network covers more than 580 inspection and enforcement sites across the country. The companies stated that the existing infrastructure could serve as the foundation for expanding the process beyond Texas and Louisiana.

Collaboration Between PrePass and Kodiak AI: Driverless Truck Inspection Process

The collaboration between PrePass and Kodiak AI uses the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Enhanced Inspection Program developed by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), which was designed for commercial vehicles equipped with automated driving systems. The CMV program was launched to regulate inspections of commercial motor vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS).

The program adapts inspections for commercial vehicles equipped with ADS to replace traditional roadside checks. It includes defect-free inspections at the vehicle’s origin/destination, specific procedures, and 40 hours of CVSA training for inspectors. On the road, vehicles must demonstrate that they have successfully passed the inspection, that the ADS is functioning properly, and that they are operating within their operational design domain, allowing them to bypass fixed inspection points, reduce stops, and minimize risks.

Under this program, a CVSA-trained inspector verifies that an autonomous commercial vehicle has no safety defects before it begins operating without a driver.

A successfully completed enhanced inspection remains valid for up to 24 hours, provided that the requirements established by the program are met. The PrePass and Kodiak AI process does not modify or replace the inspection program; it simply facilitates access to the relevant information through existing roadside enforcement systems.

Expanding Trucking Operations and Data Integration

Chas Wurster, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of PrePass, stated that the next obstacle to expanding driverless trucking is not inside the truck. It is the infrastructure surrounding it.

“PrePass has spent years preparing for this future through federal research, collaboration with state agencies, and continued investment in roadside enforcement technology. By working with Kodiak to move driverless trucking toward real-world commercial operations, PrePass is putting into practice the plan for what comes next: connecting states, roadside infrastructure, and trusted data so autonomous operations can function at scale,” Wurster said.

Integrating inspection data into existing roadside enforcement systems could reduce the need to implement separate enforcement processes as driverless operations expand across state lines for many fleets. This approach would also allow state agencies to incorporate autonomous commercial vehicles into their standard safety and oversight procedures, avoiding the need to create entirely new roadside enforcement mechanisms.