California is paving the way for self-driving technology in heavy-duty trucks, with a new proposal that would allow initial testing of autonomous trucks on public roads. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has put forth a plan to permit testing of self-driving Class 8 trucks and other large vehicles, opening up the possibility for companies like Tesla to bring their driverless technologies to the market.
Currently, heavy-duty vehicles over 10,001 pounds are not allowed to participate in public self-driving tests in California, as well as in states like Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas. The proposed regulations would establish specific routes for testing autonomous semi-trucks and oversized vehicles, ensuring that they comply with legal size, weight, and loading requirements. These designated routes would primarily consist of major highways, with city streets off-limits for testing.
Certain types of heavy-duty vehicles, such as those used for transporting passengers, oversize loads, bulk liquids, or hazardous materials, would be prohibited from testing under the proposed regulations. The DMV plans to hold a public hearing on the proposal in June before moving forward with implementation.
In addition to allowing testing of self-driving trucks, California is also evaluating updates to its requirements for testing light-duty vehicles. Currently, manufacturers must obtain permits for testing autonomous vehicles with safety drivers before progressing to driverless testing and deployment permits. The proposed regulations would mandate heavy-duty manufacturers to complete at least 500,000 miles of autonomous testing, with up to 40,000 miles allowed outside of California.
The push for autonomous trucking comes amidst the Trump administration’s efforts to accelerate self-driving deployment by expanding exemptions for reporting requirements. While Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology is not yet available for its electric Semi truck, the company has been testing the software on the vehicle in Nevada. Tesla is gearing up for volume production of the Semi and is expanding its Gigafactory in Nevada to meet demand.
As the automotive industry continues to advance towards autonomous driving, California’s proposal for testing self-driving heavy-duty trucks marks a significant step forward in the adoption of driverless technology on the roads. With regulations in place to ensure safety and compliance, companies like Tesla are poised to revolutionize the trucking industry with their innovative autonomous solutions.