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A federal exemption granted to Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI removes the long‑standing requirement that heavy‑duty trucks place reflective triangles on the roadside after a breakdown. The FMCSA’s five‑year waiver allows cab‑mounted warning beacons to replace those devices, a change the companies say will boost safety and freight efficiency. Kodiak AI’s new 435‑mile Dallas‑to‑Laredo autonomous route and Aurora’s expanding Dallas‑Houston operations illustrate rapid commercial rollout, with Aurora targeting over 200 driverless trucks by year‑end. Industry observers note that this regulatory breakthrough, combined with additional pilots from Volvo‑Waabi and growing lane deployments, signals that autonomous freight is moving from pilot to mainstream, prompting stakeholders to watch for broader adoption of the on‑board warning system, scaling of long‑haul routes, and upcoming safety‑performance data that will shape future policy. [[1, 2]]