Autonomous Truck Pilot Launches on 600-Mile Texas Route

International and Ryder test self-driving trucks, while FMCSA seeks public input on railroad crossing data

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:10pm

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International Motors and Ryder System have launched a joint autonomous truck pilot, operating a daily 600-mile route along the I-35 corridor between Laredo and Temple, Texas. The pilot is testing International's second-generation autonomous tractor equipped with a suite of sensors. Meanwhile, FMCSA has published new data on vehicle-rail collisions and signal failures at railroad crossings, seeking public comment as it considers potential regulatory changes.

Why it matters

The autonomous truck pilot represents a significant step forward in the real-world testing of self-driving commercial vehicles, as companies work to validate the technology and identify optimal use cases. FMCSA's data collection and potential regulatory action on railroad crossing rules could impact safety requirements for commercial drivers.

The details

The International-Ryder autonomous truck pilot is placing a factory-integrated autonomous vehicle into a live freight operation, with a human safety driver present. Early results show a 100% on-time delivery rate and 92% autonomous route coverage. The test aims to validate autonomous technology, identify optimal use cases, and gain operational feedback. Separately, FMCSA has published data showing very few hazmat-carrying trucks and passenger buses were involved in vehicle-rail collisions from 2016-2024, and approximately 263 signal failures per year at active railroad crossings. The agency is seeking public comment as it considers potential regulatory changes to the requirements for commercial drivers at railroad grade crossings.

  • The updated CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria took effect on April 1, 2026, differentiating between false logs and ELD tampering violations.
  • FMCSA issued a notification of data availability on March 28, 2026, seeking public comment through April 27, 2026.

The players

International Motors

A truck manufacturer that has launched a joint autonomous truck pilot with Ryder System.

Ryder System, Inc.

A logistics and transportation company that is the inaugural customer participating in International's autonomous fleet trial program.

FMCSA

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is seeking public input on data related to vehicle-rail collisions and railroad crossing signal failures as it considers potential regulatory changes.

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What they’re saying

“For Ryder, this pilot represents an important step forward -- moving beyond terminal- and maintenance-focused trials to evaluating autonomy in live operations.”

— Seth deVlugt, Senior Director of RyderVentures and New Product Strategy

What’s next

FMCSA will review public comments on the railroad crossing data through April 27, 2026, as it considers potential regulatory changes to the requirements for commercial drivers at railroad grade crossings.

The takeaway

The autonomous truck pilot and FMCSA's data collection highlight the ongoing evolution of self-driving commercial vehicle technology and the regulatory landscape surrounding transportation safety, particularly at railroad crossings.