Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024:
Nearly identical bills introduced in both the state senate and state house in Indiana would effectively ban the use of driverless autonomous trucks in the state.
The bills would require a human operator to be physically present in any autonomous commercial motor vehicle.
Indiana state Sen. Jim Tomes, one of the authors of the Senate bill, said the bill would increase safety on state highways.
"With new technology on the horizon and more self-driving vehicles being used on our roadways, it is important our laws reflect these changes to keep Hoosiers safe," Tomes said. "Driverless vehicles, especially large trucks, could pose a danger on our public roads if not monitored properly.”
New York also recently introduced similar legislation. The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association voiced its opposition to New York’s bill, with AVIA CEO Jeff Farrah saying it would “impose a premature and permanent ban on autonomous trucks.” The Teamsters union has largely been in favor of similar bills.
California last year passed a similar bill, but it was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
