## Driverless Trucks in the Permian Basin

The number of driverless trucks hauling frac sand in the Permian Basin is growing after Aurora announced that Detmar Logistics will commit to using 30 Aurora Driver-powered autonomous trucks in 2026.

According to Aurora, this deployment marks the first time frac sand will be autonomously hauled on public roads and highways in the Permian Basin, a significant milestone for the company that has primarily focused on terminal-to-terminal operations.

### Detmar Logistics Commitment

Detmar Logistics, a major provider in the dry bulk and frac sand logistics sector, plans to utilize the Aurora-powered autonomous trucks to transport proppants around the clock for multinational oil and gas companies. Supervised autonomous operations with Detmar are set to begin early next year between the company's facility in Midland, Texas, and Capital Sand's mining site in Monahans.

The operations will transition to fully driverless once Aurora deploys its second fleet of trucks, expected in the second quarter of 2026. The routes will run along Interstate 20, utilizing local and private roads.

### Benefits of Aurora's Technology

The autonomous trucks are designed to autonomously navigate overhead filling silos, a crucial task for proppant loading. Proppant is a gritty material such as sand; all frac sand is proppant, but not all proppants are frac sand.

Matt Detmar, CEO of Detmar Logistics, emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe and reliable flow of proppant as demand increases. He noted that Aurora's autonomous technology would significantly improve efficiency and provide a competitive advantage for the business.

Under the initial contract, each unit will haul sand for more than 20 hours a day, highlighting the efficiency of automation compared to human drivers, who can typically drive for 11 hours before needing a break.

### Future of Autonomous Transport

Humans will still play a role in operations as Detmar plans to maintain an expanded fleet of Aurora-powered trucks alongside their human-operated fleet and network of independent contractors.

The ability to haul autonomously on public roads marks a key distinction in the ongoing evolution of freight logistics in the Permian Basin.