One AV company, Bot Auto, says its trucks are already cheaper than a human driver, at least on one route from Houston to Dallas.

Why it matters: Goldman Sachs Research expects autonomous trucks to become cheaper per mile than human-driven trucks in 2028.

The latest: Xiaodi Hou has been obsessed with cost-per-mile since founding Bot Auto in 2023, after his previous AV trucking company, TuSimple, shuttered its U.S. operations and moved to China.

• Bot delivered its first commercial load without a safety driver onboard last week for Ryan Transportation, a freight broker.
• It's just one route, a 230-mile stretch between Houston and Dallas, but the math is encouraging, Hou, Bot's chief executive, said.

By the numbers: While the ordinary human-driven truck would cost $2.26 per mile to make the delivery, Bot's driverless truck completed the trip for $1.89 per mile — and collected revenue for the shipment that's equivalent to $2.70 per mile.

• "We're reaching the tipping point where we can make money," Hou tells Axios.

The big picture: While robotaxis get most of the attention, autonomous trucking could be a bigger business.

• In 2035, the global market for autonomous trucking will eclipse that of self-driving cabs — $560 billion vs. $415 billion — Goldman predicts.
• In the U.S., the AV trucking market is projected to grow from $16 billion in 2030 to $105 billion in 2035.

How it works: A human-driven truck today costs about $2.26 per mile on average, according to the American Transportation Research Institute.

• An AV truck costs around $8.60 per mile today, per Goldman.
• By 2035, however, the AV truck could cost as little as $2 per mile, the researchers project.

AV trucks have another advantage, too: They can drive all night, while human drivers are required to rest after 11 hours behind the wheel.

Reality check: The road ahead still has some bumps. Autonomous trucking companies still have to prove their rigs are safe for U.S. highways.

• There are no special rules for autonomous trucks, so operators are self-certifying their safety.
• Labor unions argue the technology will destroy jobs and isn't ready for prime time.

Not that you need another excuse to go to Costco, but World Cup fever has finally reached stores across North Texas.

• You can pick from track jackets, jerseys, plush soccer balls and Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé Lego sets.

The intrigue: Some World Cup-themed items have ended up on the clearance racks at Marshalls, marked down from $34.99 to $22. They include sweatshirts with Dallas' turquoise and lime green branding.

Zoom out: Japan, which sits two spots below the U.S. men's team in FIFA's latest ranking, has been selling World Cup merch for over six months.

Pro tip: You can browse Dallas' official merch at the FIFA store.

Reality check: Who thought sweatshirts for a host city with intense summers was a good idea?

Speaking of soccer, the Major League Soccer Players Association released its latest salary guide yesterday, and FC Dallas looks downright stingy compared with league powerhouses Inter Miami and LAFC.

Driving the news: Petar Musa is the only player on the Dallas roster who earns seven figures, with a guaranteed compensation of $2.9 million.

• Dallas is one of two teams (Philadelphia Union is the other) with just one player making at least $1 million.
• Dallas ranks 25th out of 30 teams in total guaranteed salary with a payroll of $14.5 million.

State of play: Dallas is punching above its weight, however, ranked seventh in the Western Conference.

Zoom in: Musa, a Croatian forward, has scored 10 goals in 12 games this season, the second highest goal scorer in MLS.

• Lionel Messi, by comparison, has scored nine goals this season for Miami and has a guaranteed compensation of $28.2 million.

What's next: Dallas plays the Vancouver Whitecaps at 7:30pm today at Toyota Stadium.

🔎 Federal investigators are looking into Uber's Avride robotaxis after receiving multiple reports of crashes in Dallas and Austin. (WFAA)

✈️ American Airlines is expecting record travel this summer, an estimated 75 million travelers May 21-Sept. 8. (DMN)

✍️ Gateway Church and Robert Morris, the church's former lead paster, have agreed to settle a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over his retirement compensation. (CBS11)

📻 A hip-hop band from Dallas won NPR's Tiny Desk Contest, which had more than 6,000 entries this year. (KERA)

Dallas artists have until Friday to submit work to be considered for a Pride Month exhibit at City Hall.

How it works: Dallas-based artists —who either live in the city limits or work in a studio in the city — can submit up to three 2D pieces for consideration.

• Artwork must be ready to install. The pieces should weigh less than 5 pounds and cannot exceed 4 feet by 4 feet.
• Selected artists will receive a $250 stipend.

Zoom in: The theme should reflect the experience and history of the LGBTQ+ community.

• "All Dallas-based artists are encouraged to explore themes of community, self-expression, love, visibility, and the ongoing pursuit of equality and belonging," the entry form says.

The bottom line: Entries are due by 5pm.

• The exhibit will be open to the public in June in the City Hall lobby.