Tennessee will test driverless trucks on interstate freeway

The autonomous trucks will operate on a 40-mile stretch of Interstate 40 connecting Memphis and an upcoming Ford production center.

1 minute read

April 6, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Red big rig truck driving down freeway in Tennessee.

The project raises concerns among truck drivers and road safety advocates. | CK Foto / Shutterstock

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has partnered with a private freight operator to test driverless trucks on a 40-mile stretch of Interstate 40 between Memphis and Blue Oval City. According to an article in Memphis Today, "Tennessee's pilot project represents the latest effort by a state to integrate autonomous vehicles into its transportation infrastructure, a trend that will likely continue to raise debate over the merits and risks of this emerging technology."

Blue Oval City is a major planned manufacturing complex that is slated to produce Ford vehicles, and state officials say the "Smart Freight Corridor" pilot program will strengthen this critical freight route.

Friday, April 3, 2026 in Memphis Today

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