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Daimler Expands Self-Driving Truck Testing on U.S. Roads
Torc, a Daimler-owned company, begins public road tests in Michigan to advance autonomous freight technology.
Published on Feb. 26, 2026
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Daimler's self-driving truck company, Torc, has started testing its autonomous Freightliner Cascadia trucks on public roads in Michigan, expanding its previous testing in Dallas-Fort Worth and Blacksburg. This move is part of Torc's ongoing partnership with local organizations in Michigan to improve safety and innovation in the freight industry through autonomous trucks.
Why it matters
The expansion of Torc's public road testing in Michigan is a significant step forward in the development and real-world validation of self-driving truck technology. As the long-haul trucking industry faces challenges like driver shortages and safety concerns, autonomous freight vehicles could provide solutions, but the technology needs to be thoroughly tested and proven before widespread adoption.
The details
Torc, which is owned by Daimler, has set up an engineering office in Ann Arbor and is now utilizing real-world data from the Michigan tests to improve its autonomous driving software and hardware. The company is working closely with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and Ann Arbor SPARK to advance the safety and innovation of autonomous freight transportation.
- Torc set up an engineering office in Ann Arbor last year.
- Torc has previously tested its self-driving trucks in Dallas-Fort Worth and Blacksburg.
The players
Torc
A self-driving truck company owned by Daimler that is expanding its public road testing of autonomous Freightliner Cascadia trucks in Michigan.
Daimler
The parent company of Torc and a major manufacturer of commercial vehicles, including the Freightliner Cascadia trucks used in Torc's autonomous testing.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
A state organization partnering with Torc to improve safety and innovation in the freight industry through autonomous truck technology.
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)
A state agency collaborating with Torc on its autonomous truck testing and development in Michigan.
Ann Arbor SPARK
A regional economic development organization working with Torc on its autonomous freight initiatives in Michigan.
What they’re saying
“Validating our hardware and software together on public roads is a critical step in the marathon toward autonomous trucking commercialization. Each new hardware generation allows us to further validate our AI inference models, strengthen our simulation accuracy, and ensure our autonomous system performs safely and reliably in real-world conditions.”
— Felix Heide, Head of Artificial Intelligence at Torc
What’s next
Torc is hiring for software engineering, artificial intelligence, and machine learning roles in Michigan and remotely to support the continued testing and development of its autonomous truck technology.
The takeaway
The expansion of Torc's public road testing in Michigan represents a significant milestone in the advancement of self-driving truck technology, which could help address challenges in the long-haul trucking industry. However, thorough testing and validation in real-world conditions are crucial before widespread adoption of autonomous freight vehicles.
