Autonomous Truck Safety Driver - West Texas

As an Autonomous Truck Safety Driver at Kodiak Robotics, your main responsibilities include safely operating our advanced autonomous trucks, monitoring their performance, and assisting in the deployment of innovative driving technology on actual roadways. You’ll also ensure compliance with safety protocols while cooperating with our Midland/Odessa operations team to improve our technology in real-world conditions.

To qualify as an Autonomous Truck Safety Driver with Kodiak Robotics, candidates must hold a Class A CDL license with a clean driving record and have at least three years of verifiable Class A driving experience. Additionally, doubles and triples endorsements are necessary, as well as the ability to pass a background check, drug test, and a DOT physical.

Kodiak Robotics offers a comprehensive benefits package for their Autonomous Truck Safety Drivers, including competitive pay at $39 per hour, local driving with a 4 on 4 off schedule, double time for holiday pay, two weeks paid vacation plus a week of sick time, and extensive medical, dental, and vision plans. They also provide a generous 401k plan, snacks, drinks, and a driver referral bonus plan.

Autonomous Truck Safety Drivers at Kodiak Robotics work on a 4 on 4 off schedule, ensuring balanced work-life harmony. This means you will have four days on the job followed by four days off, giving you the flexibility to recharge while being compensated for competitive hours of work.

Kodiak Robotics provides on-the-job training for their Autonomous Truck Safety Drivers, which includes familiarization with the advanced technologies in their trucks and essential light computer skills necessary for monitoring vehicle systems. The support provided ensures drivers are ready to take on their roles with confidence.

When driving an autonomous truck, ensuring safety starts with thorough knowledge of the vehicle's systems. It's crucial to stay attentive, monitor the truck's reactions, and be ready to intervene if necessary. Highlighting previous experiences where you successfully navigated challenging situations can showcase your commitment to safety.

In answering this question, speak to your extensive driving background, focusing on your Class A experience. Discuss instances where you interacted with or managed technology while driving, like utilizing GPS systems or telematics, to underline your comfort working alongside advanced tech.

Use the STAR method to answer this: describe the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This structure provides a clear narrative where you can demonstrate your problem-solving skills, resilience, and commitment to safety under pressure, which are critical traits for an Autonomous Truck Safety Driver.

Express enthusiasm for the evolving landscape of the transportation sector, emphasizing the potential for increased safety and efficiency. Your familiarity with current technologies and openness to learning further about Kodiak’s systems will resonate well in this discussion.

Mention any professional associations you engage with, online courses you take, or publications you read to stay updated. It’s important to demonstrate that you prioritize knowledge in regulations as a key part of your commitment to safe driving.

Reiterate your willingness to adapt to various shifts while emphasizing how previous experiences have prepared you for flexibility. Highlighting your commitment to team success, regardless of the schedule, will showcase your reliability.

Focus on qualities such as attentiveness, safety-mindedness, adaptability, and technological savvy. Illustrate each quality with examples from your experience, showcasing how these characteristics have influenced your driving career positively.

Explain your strategies for combatting fatigue, such as taking scheduled breaks, staying hydrated, and using techniques to maintain alertness. Demonstrating your awareness of personal well-being reinforces your commitment to safety while driving.

Share your passion for technology and innovation, particularly in the context of improving safety and efficiency in the trucking industry. Your enthusiasm for working with emerging technology at Kodiak Robotics will resonate well with interviewers.

In your response, highlight your unique skills, experiences, and dedication that align with Kodiak's mission. Discuss how your commercial driving background paired with your adaptability to new technology complements the role and the company’s goals.