The Deliberate Pace of Autonomous Trucking Innovation
By Babak Akhlaghi on July 4, 2025. Growth at all costs is the startup mantra I’ve never subscribed to.
When I see Bot Auto operating with just four trucks while others rush to deploy fleets, I recognize a kindred approach to business building. Their restraint isn’t a limitation but a strategic choice that resonates with my own experience founding a law firm.
We’ve had opportunities to merge with bigger firms and bring in additional partners to accelerate growth. These prospects always sound promising on paper. The reality is that growing too fast introduces risks that can undermine your foundation.
Strategic growth must be organic. It allows you to identify what works, what doesn’t, and correct course before small issues multiply into systemic problems.
Safety Before Speed
The stakes in autonomous trucking are particularly high. Imagine driving next to an 80,000-pound vehicle with no human at the wheel. A slight system error could result in catastrophic consequences.
While the technology has matured significantly, companies like Bot Auto understand that prioritizing safety over addressing the immediate driver shortage is both ethically sound and strategically wise.
Credibility, once damaged, is nearly impossible to repair. A single high-profile accident could set back adoption by years.
Bot Auto has completed hub-to-hub driverless demonstrations in just three months from its Houston base with a team of only 45 people. This focused approach allows them to build credibility methodically rather than rushing to scale prematurely.
The Hidden Power of Limited Deployment
With a four-truck fleet, Bot Auto can gather highly detailed, nuanced data that becomes unwieldy with larger deployments.
They can track individual vehicle performance at a micro level, identifying specific operational challenges that might get lost in the noise of a larger dataset.
This concentrated approach enables rigorous testing of safety protocols and edge-case scenarios specific to each truck’s operations.
The iterative feedback loop becomes tighter. They can test, evaluate, and rapidly improve their systems without the added complexity of scaling changes across dozens of vehicles.
Strategic Partnerships and IP Protection
No company can win the autonomous race alone. Partnerships like those formed by Plus with Amazon, Bosch, and major truck manufacturers are fundamental for large-scale adoption.
Autonomous technology developers need OEMs to incorporate their systems and implement redundancy measures specific to driverless operation. The entire system—hardware, software, and physical components—must work seamlessly under real-world conditions.
However, in this fast-moving space, protecting intellectual property is non-negotiable. Companies like Plus have built extensive patent portfolios to safeguard their innovations.
My advice to companies in this space mirrors what I tell my students: protect your ideas but still collaborate. Before entering partnerships, establish robust IP agreements that clearly identify existing IP, potential new developments, and ownership rights.
When inventors from different organizations tackle common problems together, they often find solutions faster than working independently. The key is ensuring that IP generated during collaboration belongs to your company or is jointly owned.
Real-World Testing Reveals What Simulations Cannot
Bot Auto’s pilot program between Houston and San Antonio provides insights that no simulation could replicate.
Real-world testing reveals unpredictable interactions with human drivers and pedestrians. It tests systems against actual weather conditions like heavy rain or extreme heat.
Perhaps most valuably, it exposes autonomous systems to unexpected scenarios—road construction, debris, or irregular signage—that even the most sophisticated simulations might miss.
The real-world testing happening on specific routes provides a controlled yet authentic environment to validate technology before wider deployment.
Challenging Silicon Valley’s Growth Philosophy
Bot Auto’s approach challenges Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” mentality. In autonomous trucking, breaking things isn’t an option.
My experience building a law firm reinforces that consistent strategic growth outperforms rapid expansion without a specific plan.
When you grow too quickly, the fabric of your organization changes, usually not for the better. You introduce people with different mindsets about how things should operate, creating internal tension.
Small, consistent contributions can create something immense and interconnected when guided by a clear vision.
The Future Is Hybrid
Looking ahead five years, I anticipate a hybrid approach where human drivers and autonomous systems coexist. Beyond that horizon, full autonomy will likely become dominant as the technology matures.
This transition will help address the persistent shortage of truck drivers in the United States, currently at more than 80,000 drivers and expected to double by 2030.
The shift will reduce operational costs substantially. It will also accelerate the broader trend of AI replacing certain job categories, raising important questions about workforce development.
The technical challenges ahead aren’t just about perfecting driverless systems. We need innovation in road infrastructure to support autonomous vehicles and provide safeguards when systems encounter problems.
Bot Auto’s measured approach recognizes that winning the autonomous trucking race isn’t about being first to deploy at scale. It’s about building systems so safe and reliable that their adoption becomes inevitable.
Sometimes the tortoise doesn’t just win the race. It redefines it entirely.
Stay Informed with Expert Insights!
Want more valuable tips on navigating patent law and protecting your intellectual property? Join our free weekly newsletter for the latest updates, expert advice, and exclusive content straight to your inbox. Subscribe today and never miss out on essential information that can make all the difference in your patent journey! Subscribe to our Newsletter