MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kodiak AI, Inc. (“Kodiak”), a leading provider of Physical AI-powered autonomous vehicle technology, today announced it will conduct pilot operations and explore the deployment of trucks equipped with the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s AI-powered autonomous driving system, at West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.’s (“West Fraser”) log-hauling operations in Alberta, Canada. In the initial phase of work, Kodiak will pilot the use of its self-driving technology to transport timber from forest sites to one of West Fraser’s Alberta processing facilities in Western Canada later this year. Results of the pilot will be used to inform any future long-term deployment of Kodiak Driver-equipped trucks for commercial driverless operations. This work marks a significant milestone for Kodiak, representing the company’s expansion into the timber industry, as well as its first international operations. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with operations in Canada, the United States, and Europe, West Fraser is the world’s largest manufacturer of wood building materials. Logging truck routes often involve challenging, remote resource roads with uneven and rough terrain. By leveraging the Kodiak Driver, West Fraser aims to improve the safety of its logging transport operations, address the industry-wide shortage of drivers, and increase the consistency of its raw material supply to mills. “Innovation that improves safety and sustainability has long been central to how West Fraser operates,” said Mark Cookson, Woods Operations Manager, West Fraser. “This pilot gives us the opportunity to test autonomous technology that can help address driver shortages and enhance safety by reducing human exposure to the risks of remote, rough-terrain resource roads.” The Kodiak Driver is designed to handle the complex variables seen in industrial trucking environments. Kodiak deployed its first driverless technology commercially in West Texas’s Permian Basin in December 2024, and scaled its operations to 20