Calif. Bill to Ban Autonomous Trucks Heads to Governor’s Desk

California legislators have sent a bill banning heavy-duty driverless trucks to the governor. 

Assembly Bill 316 requires that autonomous trucks weighing 10,001 pounds or more have a human driver in the cab. The bill advanced through the state senate Sept. 11 by a 36-2 vote after previously clearing the state assembly in May. 

While Gov. Gavin Newsom hasn’t publicly stated his views on the legislation, his business development office wrote a letter in August to the bill’s sponsor expressing opposition. 

The ban would last for at least five years, according to the bill, with a provision requiring the state Department of Motor Vehicles to submit a report at that time “evaluating the performance of autonomous vehicle technology and its impact on public safety and employment in the transportation sector.”