Gatik Says Its Driverless Freight Trucks Have Reached Commercial Scale

Summary

Gatik says it has moved driverless freight out of pilot programmes and into regular, revenue-generating operations. The company is operating fully autonomous short-haul and middle-mile routes with no driver or safety observer on board, completing daily deliveries for Fortune 50 retailers. Gatik reports more than 60,000 fully driverless deliveries since mid-2025, over 10,000 driverless miles and 2,000+ autonomous hours, and says it has around $600 million in contracted revenue. Deployments run across several U.S. regions and Ontario, Canada, using 26- and 30-foot trucks carrying ambient, refrigerated and frozen goods between distribution centres and stores.

Key Points

Gatik transitioned from pilots to commercial driverless freight operations beginning mid-2025.
Reported metrics: 60,000+ fully driverless deliveries, 10,000+ driverless miles and more than 2,000 autonomous hours on public roads.
The business is supported by about $600 million in contracted revenue from major shippers.
Trucks operate without drivers or safety observers on repeatable short-haul and middle-mile lanes.
Operations focus on predictable routes to move ambient, refrigerated and frozen goods nearly round the clock.
Gatik completed independent safety reviews and briefed regulators including FMCSA and NHTSA before launching fully driverless runs.
The company plans further U.S. expansion as demand for middle-mile automation grows amid driver shortages and rising costs.

Content Summary

The article explains that Gatik has progressed from limited tests to sustained, revenue-bearing autonomous freight operations. By concentrating on middle-mile and short-haul routes — where lanes are repeatable and schedules predictable — Gatik says it has achieved operational scale and commercial traction. The deployments are positioned to help retailers increase delivery frequency and reduce reliance on strained driver pools, while the company emphasises safety validation and regulatory engagement prior to full driverless runs.

Context and Relevance

Autonomous trucking has been in trials for years; this announcement is presented as a shift to commercial viability in a defined segment. For logistics, retail and fleet managers, reliable middle-mile autonomy could deliver more predictable replenishment, lower labour pressure and new contracting options. The milestone also raises questions for regulators, competitors and large shippers about safety standards, procurement and how driverless assets will integrate with existing networks.

Author’s take

Punchy: This looks like a proper inflection point. Gatik’s numbers and contracted revenue — if sustained — mean autonomous middle-mile freight is moving from experiment to business. Worth paying attention if you move stock, manage fleets or plan logistics strategy.

Why should I read this?

Quick and useful: if you work in logistics, retail or fleet ops, this could change how deliveries are scheduled and who you contract with. Saves you the faff of sifting through pilot claims — this one comes with operational stats and big contracts.