ATA Issues First-Ever Autonomous Truck Policy Guidelines
ATA has issued 21 policy points aimed at smoothing the eventual deployment and operation of autonomous trucks. Photo: Freightliner
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ATA has issued 21 policy points aimed at smoothing the eventual deployment and operation of autonomous trucks. Photo: Freightliner
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In a sign that events are accelerating rapidly on the autonomous trucks front, American Trucking Associations has unanimously approved its first-ever policy for the development of automated trucks at its annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. ATA’s new policy covers a variety of topics including safety, the roles of the federal and state governments, uniformity across state lines, infrastructure, and education.
The new policy is comprehensive in nature and divided into eight key policy points that the agency has identified as crucial for the successful deployment and operation of autonomous trucks. Those eight policy points are Safety, Flow of Interstate Commerce, Federal Preemption and State’s Rights, Uniform State Laws, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Public Education and Maintainability.
Working within those policy points, ATA developed more detailed action plans to work with various government and law enforcement agencies as well as OEMs, suppliers and members as autonomous technology use in trucking draws near.
Key points outlined in the new policy include:
The trucking industry, led by ATA, should invest in coalition building with government, academia, research institutions, and private sector to demonstrate the rising level of safety related to automated and connected vehicle technology.Demonstrations of automated trucks are needed to provide data to establish safety and other benefits of this technology. Initial data generated by technology developers, based on their safety and validation testing, will be valuable.Government regulators and lawmakers should revise or remove outdated safety-related laws, regulations, and guidance as data demonstrates a technology’s ability to provide an equivalent or higher level of safety than current regulations support or incorporate.As automated truck technology is developed, tested, and commercialized, it is critical that federal, state and local laws do not create disparities that limit commerce and obstruct the successful adoption …Read the rest of this story
