Class A Safety Driver

(C) 2026 maritime global network. Autonomous Trucking milestone: Kodiak and PrePass work to clear driverless vehicles at weigh stations. By MGN Editorial - September 22, 2026 at 12:00 AM Kodiak Robotics and PrePass are partnering to integrate driverless trucks into existing roadside inspection infrastructure, a critical regulatory step before autonomous highway operations can begin at scale. ## Autonomous Trucking Edges Closer to Reality with Weigh Station Integration A key regulatory hurdle for autonomous freight transport is moving closer to resolution, as Kodiak Robotics and weigh station bypass provider PrePass work to establish a framework for clearing driverless trucks at roadside inspection points - a development with significant implications for the broader freight and logistics supply chain. According to FreightWaves, Kodiak is targeting driverless highway runs by the end of the year, but before unmanned vehicles can operate commercially, roadside inspectors must have a reliable process for screening and clearing trucks with no one in the cab. The PrePass partnership is designed to address precisely that gap. PrePass, which operates one of North America's largest weigh station bypass networks, will work with Kodiak to ensure its autonomous trucks can be properly identified, assessed, and either cleared or directed to pull in for inspection - all without a human driver present to interact with inspectors. ### Why This Matters for Freight and Logistics The integration of autonomous vehicles into existing transport compliance infrastructure represents one of the more complex - and often overlooked - challenges facing the driverless trucking sector. Weigh stations serve a critical safety and regulatory function, verifying vehicle weights, checking credentials, and conducting safety inspections. Adapting these processes for vehicles without drivers requires coordination between technology providers, regulators, and enforcement agencies. For the maritime and intermodal freight sectors, the advancement of autonomous trucking carries considerable downstream relevance. Drayage operations connecting ports to inland distribution networks are frequently cited as a target application for autonomous and semi-autonomous trucks, given the repetitive, defined routes involved. Progress on regulatory compliance frameworks - such as the PrePass-Kodiak initiative - brings that vision a step closer to operational reality. The freight industry is watching developments closely, as driver shortages continue to pressure capacity and costs across road, rail, and port-side logistics. Autonomous trucking, if it can navigate the regulatory landscape, is widely seen as a long-term structural solution to those constraints. Kodiak has not yet confirmed specific commercial launch timelines beyond its stated year-end ambition for driverless highway operations, and regulatory approvals will remain a determining factor in how quickly the technology can be deployed at scale. *Source: FreightWaves* #autonomous trucking #drayage #freight technology #intermodal logistics #supply chain #road freight #regulatory compliance

PrePass and Kodiak AI announced a collaboration routing safety inspection records from Kodiak's autonomous trucks into state roadside screening systems. Implementation begins in Texas and Louisiana. The process uses PrePass's platform for weigh station bypass. Inspection information reaches enforcement personnel, who verify it and authorise bypass or send additional instructions. Kodiak (Nasdaq: KDK) plans to launch driverless commercial operations by the end of 2026. The company went public through a de-SPAC merger with Ares Acquisition Corp. II in 2025. The records come from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's Enhanced Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspection Programme. A CVSA-trained inspector verifies an autonomous truck is free of safety defects before driverless operation, with clearance valid for up to 24 hours. PrePass's bypass network spans 581 sites across North America, enabling expansion beyond the initial two states.

PrePass and Kodiak AI collaborate to advance safe, scalable driverless trucking nationwide. New initiative connects autonomous commercial vehicles with established state roadside enforcement infrastructure, creating a practical foundation for deployment across the U.S. September 21, 2026 08:00 ET | Source: Kodiak AI, Inc. PHOENIX, Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - PrePass, a leader in integrated weigh-station bypass, toll payment, safety, and compliance solutions, and Kodiak AI, Inc. ("Kodiak") (Nasdaq: KDK), a leading provider of Physical AI-powered autonomous driving technology, today announced a new collaboration to integrate Enhanced Inspections of Kodiak's autonomous trucks, conducted by Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance-trained inspectors, into established state roadside screening and enforcement systems. Using the trusted PrePass platform, the companies have created an automated bypass process that connects Enhanced Inspection information from Kodiak's autonomous trucks directly with enforcement personnel who can verify information, authorize bypass, and provide additional instructions as needed. Initial implementation begins today in Texas and Louisiana, and the collaboration paves the way for the safe scaling of driverless commercial vehicle operations nationwide. The initiative combines Kodiak's autonomous driving technology with PrePass' nationwide infrastructure and longstanding relationships with state enforcement agencies, addressing a key requirement for driverless trucking across state lines. "The next barrier to scaling driverless trucking isn't inside the truck. It's the infrastructure around it," said Chas Wurster, Chief Technology Officer of PrePass. "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." The initiative supports Kodiak's operational and regulatory readiness as the company prepares to launch driverless commercial vehicle operations on public highways by the end of this year. CVSA developed the Enhanced Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspection Program (Enhanced Inspections) 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. "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," said CVSA Executive Director Collin Mooney. "As commercial motor vehicle technologies continue to advance, inspection and enforcement processes must evolve with them while maintaining a strong focus on transportation safety." The collaboration also gives state agencies a practical way to incorporate autonomous trucks into existing safety and enforcement operations without creating a separate roadside process. "Launching driverless service is not just about building technology. It's about building a solution that works in the real world," said Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak AI. "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." PrePass has decades of experience connecting commercial fleets with state enforcement agencies and roadside infrastructure. Its network spans more than 580 inspection and screening locations nationwide. By building on systems and infrastructure states already use and understand - rather than requiring them to replace proven technology - that footprint provides a foundation for expanding the collaboration beyond Texas and Louisiana and creating a consistent, scalable approach to supporting driverless commercial operations across the country. About PrePass Safety Alliance PrePass Safety Alliance is a nonprofit public-private partnership of state agencies and trucking industry leaders devoted to the safe, secure, and efficient use of North America's highway system. Through widespread deployment of PrePass(R) advanced technologies - including the PrePass Mobile App - the Alliance works to increase safety compliance while saving motor carriers time, fuel, and money. To date, the Alliance has invested over $1.3 billion to deploy services that improve safety, reduce emissions, and preserve highway infrastructure. Learn more at www.prepassalliance.org. About PrePass PrePass(R) is the leading provider of weigh station bypass and toll payment services in North America. Operated by the PrePass Safety Alliance, PrePass helps carriers improve safety and efficiency, now including more than one billion safe bypasses and over $12 billion in estimated savings for fleets. Learn more at www.prepass.com. About Kodiak AI Kodiak AI, Inc. (Nasdaq: KDK) is a leader in Physical AI, developing driverless technology that powers machines that move. The core of the company's solution is the Kodiak Driver, a vehicle-agnostic autonomous driving system that combines advanced AI-powered software with modular hardware. Today, the Kodiak Driver operates in the long-haul trucking, industrial trucking, and defense sectors, and is already deployed in commercial operation with no one in the cab. Kodiak AI commercializes its technology through both a Driver-as-a-Service business model and strategic partnerships. In 2024, Kodiak achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first company to deploy driverless technology in customer-owned driverless semi-trucks. Commercial partners and customers include Atlas Energy Solutions, IKEA, Bridgestone, Werner Enterprises, C.R. England, General Dynamics Land Systems, and Roehl Transport. MEDIA CONTACTS: Ashley Simmons PrePass Safety Alliance [email protected] | Mobile: 202-341-9508 Pete Bigelow Kodiak AI [email protected] | Mobile: 303-443-4441