2026: The Year Driverless Trucks Go Fully Remote on U.S. Highways


Kodiak’s Big Bet: Remote Driving from Berlin to Texas Highways

Kodiak Robotics Taps Vay’s Teleoperations to Bring Human Backup to Autonomous Trucks

The Hybrid Future of Self-Driving Trucks

Kodiak Robotics, a frontrunner in autonomous trucking, just announced a game-changing partnership with Vay, the Berlin-based remote driving startup. Together, they’re adding a human safety net to the AI brains steering Kodiak’s trucks.

“Autonomy isn’t all-or-nothing.” — Don Burnette, CEO of Kodiak
“By integrating teleoperations, we ensure our trucks can handle any scenario—safely and reliably.”

Why Add Human Teleoperators to Self-Driving Trucks?


Autonomous trucks are smart—but not perfect. Remote driving gives them a safety parachute for tricky, unpredictable moments. Think of it like autopilot on a plane—with a pilot still available for landing.

🔍 Remote Drivers Step In When:

  • 🚧 Navigating construction zones

  • 👮 Responding to police hand signals

  • 🌪️ Facing unexpected road conditions

  • 🛑 Starting from depot yards or loading docks

How the Kodiak + Vay Integration Works

  • Vay’s remote rig includes a steering wheel, pedals, and multiple screens

  • Operators get a live, low-latency video feed from the truck

  • Kodiak’s autonomous system drives 99% of the way

  • Human operators provide high-level guidance, not micromanagement

“It’s not like playing a video game,” says CTO Andreas Wendel.
“The AI still enforces safety at every step.”

From Army Ops to Interstate Freight

This isn’t Kodiak’s first teleop rodeo. The tech was first explored in a 2022 U.S. Army off-road program, where autonomy needed backup in unpredictable terrains. After trying internal solutions, Kodiak partnered with Vay—who had over 10,000 remote-driven commercial trips under their belt.

Vay’s Pivot from Car-Sharing to B2B Licensing

Vay initially focused on driverless car-sharing in Europe. But now, they’re scaling like AWS did—offering their tech stack as a service.

“We built this for our own service,” says CEO Thomas von der Ohe.
“Now we’re scaling it globally across logistics, defense, and delivery.”

What’s Next?

📅 Late 2026 – Fully driverless Kodiak trucks will start hauling freight on Texas highways
💰 IPO buzz – Kodiak eyes a SPAC route to go public
🤝 New partners incoming – Vay is expanding into logistics and military contracts

Final Takeaway

The future isn’t “man vs. machine.” It’s man + machine, working together. Kodiak’s bet on teleoperations reflects a new trend in autonomy: flexible AI with optional human oversight.

Visual Suggestion for Blog/Social Media

Infographic Ideas:

  • Truck diagram showing when AI vs. human remote driver takes control

  • Flowchart: "How Kodiak + Vay handle a roadside construction zone"

  • Timeline: Vay's car-sharing to B2B licensing evolution

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