Rahul Somvanshi
California is taking steps to open its highways to self-driving heavy-duty trucks, catching up with states like Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas where such testing is already happening.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) released a proposal that would create rules for testing autonomous vehicles weighing over 10,001 pounds. Currently, the state only allows testing of lighter self-driving vehicles, making California the only state with rules specifically blocking heavier autonomous vehicles.
“This is a significant shift in California’s approach to autonomous technology,” said a DMV representative during the announcement of the proposal on Friday.
The public can comment on the plan until June 9, 2025, with a hearing scheduled for June 10. If approved, companies developing self-driving truck technology would gain access to one of the nation’s busiest freight corridors.
Strict Safety Requirements
The proposal includes much tougher requirements for heavy-duty vehicles compared to passenger cars. While companies testing light-duty autonomous vehicles need 50,000 testing miles before applying for driverless testing permits, heavy-duty truck manufacturers would need to log at least 500,000 miles. Up to 400,000 of these miles could be driven outside California.
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Testing would be limited to specific routes that are legal for the size and weight of the vehicles, mostly on major highways with speed limits of 50 mph or higher. City streets would largely be off-limits initially.
The DMV is also proposing stronger data reporting requirements. Companies would need to submit monthly reports on disengagements (when human drivers take control), vehicle immobilizations, and hard braking events.
What’s Not Allowed
Not all heavy-duty vehicles would be permitted under the proposal. The state would exclude:
- Household movers
- Passenger transport vehicles
- Trucks carrying oversize loads
- Vehicles transporting hazardous materials
- Trucks carrying bulk liquids
Jobs and Safety Concerns
Labor groups, especially the Teamsters union, have voiced strong opposition to driverless trucks. They worry about job losses among California’s hundreds of thousands of commercial truck drivers and question the safety of large autonomous vehicles on public roads.
These concerns led to a 2023 bill requiring human safety drivers in autonomous trucks, but Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed it. He argued that existing laws already gave the DMV enough authority to regulate self-driving vehicles properly.
Part of a Broader Trend
The California proposal comes as the federal government is also updating its approach to autonomous vehicles. The Trump administration recently announced it would ease some reporting requirements for self-driving and advanced driver assistance system incidents.
Companies like Aurora Innovation are already planning to launch driverless trucks in Texas this year, highlighting how quickly the technology is advancing.
The DMV’s proposal aims to balance innovation with public safety, creating a phased approach that requires extensive testing before fully driverless heavy-duty trucks can operate commercially in California.
