In a recent Nauto, Inc. safety evaluation, Kodiak AI’s autonomous system achieved a top score, advancing the conversation on autonomous truck safety by matching the safest human-driven commercial fleets.
Kodiak Driver Achieves Top Safety Score
The Kodiak Driver Nauto safety evaluation showed the system earned a Visually Enhanced Risk Assessment (VERA Score) of 98. This score ties the highest rating among more than 1,000 commercial fleets operated by human drivers.
The system received perfect scores of 100 for inattentive driving, high-risk driving, and traffic violations, with its lowest score being a 95 in aggressive driving.
VERA Score Autonomous Driving Evaluation
Nauto, Inc. created the VERA Score to measure fleet safety on a scale of 1 to 100, combining over 20 vision-based AI variables. The system provides a consistent metric for companies to proactively prevent collisions.
Fleets using Nauto’s safety technology average a score of 78, while those without it average 63, and every 10-point increase in the VERA Score autonomous driving performance cuts collision risk by about 21%.
A New Benchmark for Autonomous Truck Safety
Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak, stated the results validate the company’s focus on safety. “We believe independent safety evaluations like Nauto’s help to validate what we already know: the Kodiak Driver is already among the safest drivers on American highways,” he said. Burnette emphasized that the system “is never drowsy, never drunk, and always paying attention,” allowing it to operate defensively and predictably.
Self-Driving Truck Industry Impact and Future
The findings are sparking new discussions about the self-driving truck industry impact. While AI-powered tools can cut liability and lower costs, some experts note that unpredictable weather and human drivers remain challenges.
The development also raises concerns about the effect on jobs for professional drivers, and safety advocates are calling for clearer regulations.
Verified data from such evaluations could build regulatory trust and clear the way for wider use of autonomous trucks. Continued oversight and a gradual rollout of the technology are considered essential steps for the industry’s future.
