Autonomous Trucks Need More Oversight

Despite unfounded forecasts and empty promises that automated vehicles will lead to zero deaths, there continue to be real-world situations in which automation has devastatingly failed. We believe elected officials, federal regulators, and our industry partners must develop AV policies in a responsible manner that considers the perspective of American truckers.

FAST FACTS ABOUT AUTONOMONUS TRUCKS

• 86% of Americans are concerned with sharing the roads with autonomous trucks.
• Voluntary reporting requirements leave truckers and the general public in the dark about the safety and reliability of autonomous technologies. OOIDA believes that any process to advance automated technology should be met with mandatory data transparency from manufacturers. This will help educate consumers, the industry, and regulators about the actual reliability of autonomous technology.
• Reports show that current leading autonomous trucking companies have relationships with Chinese software suppliers. It’s unclear exactly how many miles have already been traversed in the U.S. by autonomous trucking companies using foreign technology components, but DOT and Congress must protect national security and personal privacy by ensuring that AVs are not prone to cyberattacks from malicious actors.

WHAT’S OOIDA DOING?

• OOIDA has urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop AV safety standards that are based on documented research and testing data. OOIDA has supported mandatory testing, safety, and crash reporting requirements that will provide the public with direct and easy access to information about AV performance.
• OOIDA has opposed legislation (H.R. 7390, The SELF DRIVE Act) that fails to ensure the safe operation of driverless trucks or provide adequate transparency about the vehicles’ performance.
• OOIDA has been supportive of proposals stipulating that an automated CMV may not be operated unless a human operator is physically present in the vehicle. Given so much uncertainty about AV safety performance, this would best ensure that an AV could be driven safely if the technology fails.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Contact FMCSA to oppose regulatory exemptions for autonomous trucking fleets. Use the form on this page to tell FMCSA that waiving warning device regulations to remove human operators from trucks will not improve highway safety.
• Read AV Exemption Comment Guide Here
• Land Line: Driverless Trucks Seek Exemption to Avoid Regulatory Roadblock

MORE RESOURCES

• OOIDA Opposes SELF DRIVE Act
• AVs Blocked Roads and Caused Chaos During San Francisco Power Outage
• AAA: Fear of Self-Driving Cars on the Rise

 
*Photo courtesy of LandLine.Media