California Moves to Greenlight Self-Driving Truck Testing

California is on the cusp of a major shift in its autonomous vehicle landscape, as state regulators have unveiled revised rules that could soon permit the testing and eventual deployment of self-driving trucks on public highways. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the agency overseeing autonomous vehicles, initiated a 15-day public comment period for these proposed changes, set to conclude on December 18. This move signals a potential end to the state's long-standing ban on heavy-duty driverless vehicles, a significant development for the autonomous trucking industry.

Despite being a hub for autonomous vehicle innovation, with robotaxis already a common sight in the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of Los Angeles, California has notably lacked autonomous trucks. Current regulations prohibit driverless vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds from testing on public roads, effectively banning heavy-duty self-driving freight operations. The DMV has been considering lifting this ban for several years, releasing a draft of the proposed changes earlier in 2024, with the final revisions published this past Wednesday.

The updated regulations extend beyond self-driving trucks, also addressing other aspects of autonomous vehicle operation. Notably, they include language that would empower law enforcement to issue traffic tickets to driverless vehicles, a point that has gained increased attention with the expansion of commercial robotaxi services like Waymo in California.

The allowance for self-driving trucks is arguably the most contentious aspect of the new rules, with the DMV stating that the revisions incorporate feedback from an initial public comment period held earlier this spring. The proposal has been met with enthusiasm by companies developing autonomous vehicle technology, many of which are headquartered in California but currently conduct their highway testing in states like Texas. Industry leaders such as Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI aim to leverage autonomous trucks to transport freight across major interstate commerce routes.

“The California DMV’s latest draft regulations show real progress toward creating a regulatory framework for driverless trucks in the state and unlocking coast-to-coast autonomous operations,” stated Daniel Goff, vice president of external affairs at Kodiak AI. “These proposed regulations are a critical step towards bringing autonomous trucks to California freeways in 2026, a milestone that will enhance road safety and grow the economy.”

However, the powerful Teamsters Union, a staunch advocate for truck drivers, remains steadfast in its opposition.

“Our position remains the same; we are opposed to the deployment and testing of this technology on our roads,” Shane Gusman, legislative director for Teamsters California, told TechCrunch. “The changes that are made don’t change our position.”

Gusman affirmed that the Teamsters plan to actively oppose the proposed revisions. The union is also lobbying for the passage of AB 33, a bill currently before the state Senate, which would mandate a human safety operator be present in any heavy-duty autonomous truck.

The DMV's revised framework outlines a phased permitting process for self-driving truck companies, similar to existing regulations for light-duty autonomous vehicles such as robotaxis. Initially, companies would secure a permit for testing with a human safety operator. Separate permits would then be required for fully driverless testing and eventual deployment. Under these rules, manufacturers must accumulate a minimum number of test miles before applying for driverless testing and deployment permits. For example, self-driving truck companies would need to complete at least 500,000 autonomous test miles—with 100,000 of those specifically within California's intended operational design domain—to qualify for a driverless permit.

Beyond heavy trucks, the DMV has also proposed revisions impacting light-duty autonomous vehicles. These include expanding the frequency and type of data companies must report during testing and deployment, and requiring more regular updates to plans for interacting with first responders.