Autonomous truck rules under review in six statehouses
Autonomous trucks are one notable topic receiving attention at statehouses from Maryland to Montana.
In recent years, multiple states have acted to put in place rules related to autonomous trucks.
A year ago, South Dakota established a regulatory framework to allow autonomous trucks to operate on state roads without a human operator behind the wheel. In 2023, Arkansas and Mississippi acted to amend autonomous vehicle rules to permit operation of truck platoons without a human driver in trailing vehicles.
OOIDA recognizes that the rapid development of autonomous technology has potential. However, OOIDA has pointed out the technology poses challenges as it relates to commercial vehicles and highway safety.
Delaware
A renewed effort in the Delaware General Assembly addresses testing autonomous trucks without a “human safety operator.”
Legislation introduced during the 2024 regular session called for prohibiting an autonomous truck with a gross weight exceeding 10,000 pounds from operating on a state highway. Senate lawmakers unanimously approved the bill, but it died in the House without getting floor consideration.
Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos, D-Newport, brought the issue back for consideration this year by introducing a nearly identical bill. The new version, SB46, specifies that autonomous trucks exceeding 26,000 pounds would be prohibited from travel on state roadways for testing purposes, transporting goods or transporting passengers without a human driver physically present in the vehicle.
The Delaware Department of Transportation would also be responsible for submitting a report evaluating autonomous vehicle technology to the governor by 2030. At that point, the rule could be changed.
The bill would allow testing with a person behind the wheel.
The autonomous vehicle industry has described the legislation as “preemptively and prematurely banning AV trucks in Delaware.”
The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance and Technology Committee voted unanimously to advance the bill for further consideration.
Indiana
A bipartisan pursuit at the Indiana statehouse would set guidelines for the use of autonomous tractor-trailers on state roadways.
Indiana law does not address whether a human operator is required to be present in automated vehicle platoons.
One House bill, HB1057, would enact a rule to specify that an autonomous tractor-trailer may not be operated to transport passengers or goods unless a human operator is physically present in the vehicle. Operators must also meet all state and federal qualifications to operate a tractor-trailer.
Sponsored by Rep. Cindy Ledbetter, R-Newburgh, the bill would authorize a $500 fine for any autonomous vehicle operating without meeting the requirements.
Ledbetter has communicated multiple concerns about the technology to state lawmakers. In 2024, she testified that automated “trucks without drivers put us at more risk for accidents related to technological failures.”
HB1057 and an identical bill, HB1377, are in the House Roads and Transportation Committee.
Maryland
One Maryland House bill covers fully autonomous vehicles. Among the bill’s provisions is one that would prohibit affected vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 10,000 pounds from operation on highways for testing or transporting goods or passengers.
An exception to the ban would apply as long as a human driver is “fully present in the fully autonomous vehicle at the time of operation.”
Included in HB439 is a requirement for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to report to state lawmakers by December 2030 about the impact of autonomous trucks. Information would include a summary of disengagements and crashes, job loss and infrastructure impacts, as well as a recommendation about whether the General Assembly should remove, modify or maintain the requirements detailed in the bill.
Montana
A Montana state lawmaker wants to enact rules and standards for the operation of autonomous trucks.
The state does not have guidelines for commercial vehicle platooning.
Sponsored by Rep. Zack Wirth, R-Wolf Creek, HB97 would allow truck platooning on state roadways. The lead vehicle “conductor” would be required to have a CDL. The conductor also must be “in a position to take control” of the vehicle.
Rules would apply to partially or fully autonomous vehicles that are trailers, trucks or truck tractors. Platoon operations could be up to three trucks.
Wirth told House Transportation Committee members during a recent hearing that the purpose of his bill is to put some guardrails on truck platooning. He said the rules would allow autonomous truck manufacturers to continue to innovate with permitting processes.
The Montana DOT would be responsible for adopting rules and standards for the safety operations of platoons. The agency could restrict platooning in actual or predicted periods of dangerous road conditions. MDT would also be directed to work with stakeholders, including the trucking industry, prior to proposing rules.
The transportation department’s research states that “while implementing truck platooning provides several potential advantages benefiting surface transportation, the trucking industry and overall economic growth, it also introduces a host of new challenges for MDT to navigate.”
Once the standards were in place, MDT could issue special permits for truck platoons to operate only on interstate highways and on other highways within a 2-mile radius of an interstate interchange “to obtain necessary services or to load or unload at a terminal.”
When a terminal is beyond a 2-mile radius, the department would be able to authorize the additional travel between the terminal and the interchange.
North Dakota
In North Dakota, autonomous truck usage is the topic of a House bill.
HB1614 would prohibit an “automated truck tractor” from operation on a highway to transport passengers or goods. An exception would be made for instances when an individual with a valid commercial driver’s license is physically present in the automated vehicle.
The CDL holder also would be required to monitor the performance of the autonomous truck and take control of driving if needed.
An automated truck tractor would be defined as a truck tractor that is towing a trailer or semitrailer and one in which “at least one aspect of a safety-critical control function” of the truck tractor occurs without direct input from an individual operating the vehicle.
The bill is in the House Transportation Committee.
Virginia
A bill in the Virginia House Transportation Committee addresses the use of fully autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems.
HB2627 would permit affected vehicles to operate in the state under certain circumstances.
Addressing operation of fully autonomous vehicles in excess of 62,000 pounds, the bill would require a human driver with the appropriate credentials to be physically present in the vehicle with the ability to intervene if necessary. LL