Sacramento, CA — The California Department of Motor Vehicles has adopted regulations that allow autonomous vehicle manufacturers to test and operate driverless trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or more on state roadways.
The new rules – some of which were effective immediately – override a ban on operating large driverless trucks, “opening the California market to AV freight operations,” the department says in a recent press release.
Additionally, the regulations establish protocol for permits, remote operator requirements and enforcement.
AV manufacturers must use a safety driver during testing before advancing to driverless testing. They must complete 500,000 miles of testing at each phase before applying for commercial deployment. Also required: a “structured safety case” showing the safety of AV operations, hardware and software.
Heavy driverless trucks must follow applicable state and federal requirements for commercial motor vehicles and stop at California Highway Patrol weigh stations. Vehicle manufacturers are also subject to moving violations and required to keep two-way communication to respond to first responder calls within 30 seconds.
“California continues to lead the nation in the development and adoption of AV technology, and these updated regulations further demonstrate the state’s commitment to public safety,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said in the release. “These updates support the growth of the AV industry by enhancing public safety and transparency while adding additional accountability for AV manufacturers.”
Teamsters California Co-Chairs Peter Finn and Victor Mineros disagree. In a separate release, they call the move “reckless” and vow legal action as part of the Teamsters’ mission to protect driver jobs and road safety.
“We have been clear from the start: A change this sweeping should be handled through the legislature, out in the open, with real transparency and accountability,” the union says. “Instead, the DMV is making major public policy behind closed doors.
“The DMV is also ignoring real-world stakes. These rules put our streets, our highways and our jobs in jeopardy.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed bills in 2023 and 2024 that would have prohibited large driverless autonomous trucks from operating on state roads.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) expressed support for the Teamsters in an April 30 post to X, writing, “I will continue to fight for legislation to stand up for truck drivers that was vetoed.”
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication