OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — Heavy-duty autonomous vehicles, including semi-trucks, have been approved for testing on California roads by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, drawing support from some in the trucking industry and strong criticism from labor groups.
The decision opens the door for driverless heavy-duty truck testing in California, including freight operations involving semi-trucks.
Port Business Owner Supports Autonomous Truck Testing
William Hall, owner of Coyote Container at the Port of Oakland, said he supports the move and believes technology can create more opportunities.
“I believe in technology providing more jobs for all of us, so I think it’s a good thing with trucking,” Hall said.
Hall said trucking companies often struggle with finding and keeping drivers, along with keeping them safe on the road.
“You ask any trucking company what their biggest problem is, it’s usually the drivers. It’s finding drivers, it’s keeping drivers and it’s keeping them safe and keeping them out of accidents. Those things are all, with automated trucks and driverless trucks, are easier to deal with,” Hall said.
Teamsters Push Back Against DMV Decision
Teamsters California criticized the DMV’s decision and said it plans to fight the approval.
“Make no mistake: this is just the beginning of Teamsters California’s fight for good jobs and safety on our roads,” the organization said in a statement.
The group called the decision reckless and said it may take legal action.
“The DMV’s decision to rush forward with driverless heavy-duty trucks is reckless, and we will use every tool necessary to stop it – including taking this fight to the courts,” Teamsters California said.
Aurora Points to Future Freight Deployment
Aurora, a Silicon Valley-based autonomous vehicle company, has been testing self-driving trucks in Texas since last year.
On Thursday, a leading carrier announced plans to own 500 of Aurora’s trucks. A report commissioned by Aurora projected that 170,000 self-driving trucks could be operating on U.S. roads by 2035, representing 15% of the trucking market.
Sydnee Journel, senior manager of government relations at Aurora, said the company sees California’s move as a step toward autonomous freight deployment.
“We are encouraged to see a regulatory path being established for autonomous freight in California and look forward to working with lawmakers on the safe deployment of autonomous trucking across the state,” Journel said.
Jobs and Safety Remain Central Questions
UC Berkeley Professor Scott Moura, acting director of the university’s Institute of Transportation Studies, said autonomous trucks could operate around the clock because they do not need rest breaks like human drivers.
“Clearly, though, there’s drawbacks right,” Moura said. “These are often well-paying jobs by skilled labor.”
The approval is expected to keep debate active among regulators, trucking companies, labor groups, and safety advocates as California moves toward testing driverless heavy-duty trucks on public roads.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
