California regulators have unveiled new rules that could pave the way for companies to test and eventually roll out self-driving trucks on public highways.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the oversight body for autonomous vehicles in the state, has opened a 15-day comment period on the proposed revisions, which concludes on December 18.
California hosts a variety of companies working on autonomous vehicle technology. While robotaxis are becoming common sights in the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of Los Angeles, self-driving trucks are not yet present due to regulations that prohibit the testing of driverless vehicles over 10,000 pounds on public roads.
The DMV has been considering lifting this ban for several years and released a draft of the proposed changes in 2024, with the final version made available recently.
In addition to self-driving trucks, the revised regulations also address other areas, including provisions that seem to grant law enforcement the authority to issue traffic tickets to driverless vehicles. This matter has gained attention, especially as Waymo has increased its commercial robotaxi operations in California.
The aspect concerning self-driving trucks is the most debated. The revisions take into account feedback gathered during the initial public comment period earlier this spring, according to the agency.
Companies developing autonomous vehicle technology—many of which are based in California but test in states like Texas—are optimistic about the proposal. Firms such as Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI are keen to utilize self-driving trucks for transporting freight along busy interstate highways.
“The California DMV’s latest draft regulations show real progress toward creating a regulatory framework for driverless trucks in the state and unlocking coast-to-coast autonomous operations,” said Daniel Goff, vice president of external affairs at Kodiak AI, in an email statement. “These proposed regulations are a critical step toward bringing autonomous trucks to California freeways in 2026, a milestone that will enhance road safety and grow the economy.”
However, the Teamsters Union, which advocates for truck drivers, remains opposed.
“Our position remains the same; we are against the deployment and testing of this technology on our roads,” stated Shane Gusman, legislative director for Teamsters California, during a conversation with TechCrunch. “The changes that are made don’t change our position.”
Gusman emphasized that the Teamsters plan to contest the proposed revisions and are also supporting AB 33, a bill currently under consideration in the state Senate, which would mandate that a human safety operator be present behind the wheel of any heavy-duty autonomous truck.
Under the DMV’s revised rules, companies wishing to deploy self-driving trucks would be required to go through a phased permitting process, similar to what is currently in place for light-duty autonomous vehicles like robotaxis. Initially, companies would obtain a permit to test with a human safety operator at the wheel. The DMV would then issue separate permits for driverless testing and deployment.
Manufacturers must conduct extensive testing before applying for both driverless testing and deployment permits. For instance, self-driving truck companies would need to log at least 500,000 miles in autonomous tests, with 100,000 of those miles within California’s designated operational areas, before receiving a driverless permit.
Additionally, the DMV proposed adjustments that would impact light-duty autonomous vehicles. These adjustments would enhance the frequency and types of data that companies must report to the department during their testing and deployment phases and would require more frequent updates to plans regarding interactions with first responders.
