California governor signals support for self-driving trucks

Self-driving trucks might roll in California after all.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office has signaled his opposition to legislation that would permanently ban driverless big rigs from operating on the state's public roads.

The bill, AB 316, had been gaining momentum in the state Assembly and is backed by labor unions — notably the Teamsters. But a letter from one of Newsom's senior advisers to Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, the bill's author, suggests it has reached a dead end.

Restrictions on autonomous trucking would undermine existing regulations, hinder supply chain efficiency and hamper California's economic competitiveness, according to the Aug. 15 letter, first reported by Politico.

The bill "runs counter to our state's business climate, where thoughtful policy, innovative ideas and an inclusive culture combine to fuel the creation of new industries, while protecting public safety," wrote Dee Dee Myers, a senior adviser and director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.

AB 316 intends to prohibit self-driving trucks from operating on public roads unless a human monitor remains behind the wheel. The bill is in committee in the California Assembly, though the letter suggests the governor will not sign the legislation should it advance.

Until now, the Democratic governor's support for self-driving technology was no sure thing. The legislation pits two powerful party constituencies—tech and labor—against each other.

And it gained momentum through the Assembly amid broader headaches for self-driving technology in California, namely robotaxis interfering with emergency responders and blocking traffic in San Francisco.

But the state is home to many self-driving truck companies. Executives celebrated the governor's support Thursday.

"I am thankful to the Newsom administration for standing up for innovation and safety," said Don Burnette, CEO of Kodiak Robotics. "I hope that the legislature will put politics aside and focus on ensuring California remains on the forefront of transportation and safety."

Although AB 316 appears scuttled, self-driving trucks still face hurdles.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles prohibits testing self-driving systems in vehicles that weigh more than 10,001 pounds, essentially a ban on trucks. AB 316 would have made that permanent.

Newsom opposes the bill, at least in part, because it "circumvents" existing regulatory oversight from both state and federal agencies, according to the letter, and it would thwart efforts to establish rules for trucks.

The DMV has indicated it intends to soon write those rules. It held two workshops this year that convened industry and government stakeholders in self-driving trucks. The workshops are considered an initial step in a rule-making process expected to gain further traction in 2024.