Will California Allow Autonomous Trucks?

The future of driverless technology is impacting logistics chains throughout the world, and the U.S. is no exception. While most consider self-driving cars through the lens of personal vehicles, autonomous trucks will eventually begin to overhaul the way goods are transported throughout the nation. States will set their own legislations to determine the role of autonomous vehicles on their roads. California, the largest state in the U.S., is preparing to allow autonomous trucks on the road.

The California DMV is currently proposing a framework to regulate autonomous vehicles of 10,000 pounds or more to start operating on California highways. Driverless vehicles of this size are an understandable concern, and California previously banned them. However, the state is now looking to revisit its stance on autonomous trucks to expand driverless operations across its roadways.

When Will California Allow Driverless Big Rigs?

Autonomous trucks the weigh 10,000 pounds or more could begin rolling onto California highways with human safety drivers who will take control of the wheel if necessary. They will be limited to roadways that have a maximum speed limit of 50 miles per hour and be used in less complex areas to minimize the risk of accidents.

However, recently approved legislation could stop fully autonomous trucks from hitting the road. Assembly Bill 2286 seeks to ban driverless trucks of 10,000 pounds or more from California roads without human operators in the vehicle at all times.

While the bill has passed legislation, it still needs approval from Governor Gavin Newsom. Last year, the governor vetoed a similar bill and said the state already had laws that allow the state to create a regulatory framework for autonomous trucks.

Are Driverless Cars Safe?

There have been a number of reported incidents involving driverless vehicles in California and throughout the United States. Current evidence suggests they can be safer than human-operated vehicles in certain conditions. Big Rig accidents are particularly dangerous and can be caused by human error. In 2023, the stretch of highway 101 in Los Angeles County saw 65 serious truck accidents. The technology that powers autonomous trucks is so new that it carries inherent risk. For example, the risk of cyberattacks that hijack automated vehicles are a threat to public safety, while driverless technology could fail or malfunction and endanger human passengers.

More data is needed to fully determine the percentage of risks of driverless vehicles, but that hasn’t stopped corporations like Amazon and Apple from already rolling them out. Currently, over 30 companies in California operate autonomous vehicles, and Uber is slated to partner with driverless ride company Waymo to offer passengers autonomous transportation starting in 2025.

What This Means for Truck Drivers

The adoption of autonomous trucking is inevitable, but it won’t likely take too many careers anytime soon. Human operators who are skilled enough to intervene and drive a big rig will still be necessary behind the wheel, and they’ll be required to handle the logistics of cargo delivery and shipments.

Although advancements in the future may alter the way cargo is transported across the U.S., we are still a considerable distance from completely driverless vehicles on the road.