Aurora Innovation has signed a new autonomous commercial agreement with Detmar Logistics.

Detmar Logistics is a leading provider in dry bulk and frac sand logistics solutions.

The new agreement will have Aurora autonomous trucks transport proppants around the clock for Detmar.

According to Aurora, the deployment marks the first time frac sand will be hauled autonomously on public roads and highways in the Permian Basin. 

It also establishes one of Aurora’s initial routes between customer sites – a key milestone as the company expands its network beyond terminal-to-terminal operations next year.

Expanding Endpoint Routes in 2026

Supervised autonomous operations between Detmar’s facility in Midland, Texas and Capital Sand’s mining site in Monahans will begin early next year. 

The route combines high-speed driving on Interstate 20 with local and private roads surrounding Detmar’s facility and the mining site. 

Notably, Aurora said it is delivering advanced capabilities at the mining site, including autonomously navigating overhead filling silos for proppant loading.

Once Aurora deploys its second fleet of driverless trucks, expected in Q2 2026, trips for Detmar will transition to driverless operations without anyone on board.

“Launching autonomous highway operations for Detmar is a great example of how we’re delivering immediate customer value,” said Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO at Aurora. “With the Aurora Driver, Detmar can achieve nearly 24/7 asset utilization and effectively double its capacity to move sand for a leading energy producer.”

Bringing Safety and Efficiency to the Permian Basin

The Aurora Driver is built with “superhuman” capabilities, according to the company. It can operate longer than human drivers, never gets drowsy, and vigilantly monitors 360 degrees around the truck. 

Enhancing road safety is particularly critical in the Permian Basin, which experiences a higher rate of severe and fatal crashes than the rest of Texas, the company said in a press statement.

Under the initial contract, Detmar commits to using 30 Aurora Driver-powered trucks in 2026, with each unit hauling sand for over 20 hours a day. 

Alongside their human-operated fleet and network of independent contractors, Detmar also plans to own and operate an expanded fleet of Aurora Driver-powered trucks in the future as the technology is adopted and broadly deployed.

“As simul-fracs demand higher sand volumes and operators move to 24/7 schedules, maintaining a safe, reliable flow of proppant is critical,” said Matt Detmar, CEO of Detmar Logistics. “Aurora's autonomous technology is a game-changer for our industry. It will enable us to safely improve efficiency and support our customers’ continuous operations. We expect autonomous trucks to become a competitive advantage to strengthen and grow our business in the years to come.”