AEB rule expected this year

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration appear poised to move forward with a rulemaking that would mandate automatic emergency braking systems on heavy-duty vehicles.

NHTSA already announced a final rule that will make AEB technology standard on all passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029. As of press time in early May, NHTSA and FMCSA still hadn’t submitted the heavy vehicle rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review. However, the final rule was still expected to be issued sometime this year.

Last year, the agencies issued a joint proposal that would require AEB systems and electronic stability control systems on new vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds.

The heavy vehicle proposal calls for all Class 7 and 8 vehicles – those weighing more than 26,000 pounds – to be required to meet the AEB standards three years after the rule takes effect. All Class 3 to 6 vehicles – those weighing 10,001 to 26,000 pounds – would be required to meet the AEB and electronic stability control requirements in four years. Small-volume manufacturers would have until five years after the final rule took effect. There would not be any retrofit requirements on existing heavy vehicles.

During the formal comment period, many truckers told the agencies that current AEB technologies are deficient and cited instances of false activations. Examples included false activations being triggered by shadows from an overpass or guardrails while traveling on a curve.

“The notice of proposed rulemaking mandates AEB systems without sufficiently addressing false activations, properly consulting with professional truck drivers or completing ongoing research programs,” OOIDA wrote in comments sent in September.

NHTSA opened an investigation in May 2023 into false automatic braking on certain Freightliner trucks. There were 18 complaints of false AEB activation “without an actual roadway obstacle.” In some instances, the false activation brought the truck to a complete stop in the travel lane. As of press time, the investigation remained active. LL