California Takes Steps Toward Driverless Truck Testing

California is advancing a path for autonomous heavy-duty trucks on its highways, a move that signals potential shifts in long-haul logistics. The California DMV recently closed a public comment period on a draft proposal permitting driverless truck testing, covering heavy vehicles over 10,000 pounds on designated routes, with certain restrictions. Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto of a union-supported bill mandating in-cab drivers during testing underscores his support for the tech sector’s growth despite labor concerns.

The DMV draft, released August 30, enables testing on highways with speed limits over 50 mph, limiting operations primarily to “hub-to-hub” routes to avoid neighborhood roads. Autonomous vehicle companies, such as Kodiak Robotics, back the proposal but call for broader operational flexibility. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, however, argues the draft’s pace ignores essential vetting of the technology, pointing to its potential disruption of California’s trucking workforce, which comprises nearly 200,000 drivers.