Trucking Industry’s Future with Autonomous Vehicles
WASHINGTON — The long-haul trucking sector may have received a legislative framework for the future of autonomous vehicle (AV) operations.
U.S. Representatives Bob Latta, R-Ohio, and Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., recently released a discussion draft for the “Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research in Vehicle Evolution (SELF DRIVE) Act” of 2026. If passed, this would be the first federal law aimed at improving AV regulations specifically for trucking.
This bipartisan bill aims to eliminate regulatory obstacles that have hindered the progress of autonomous freight, permitting limited commercial operations during the pilot evaluation phase of these trucks.
By overriding state-level restrictions on AVs, the legislation would provide the legal framework needed to transition autonomous heavy trucks from closed circuits to interstate commerce.
Adam Raviv, a co-leader in the automotive and mobility sector at Sidley Austin LLP, noted in a blog post that the bill would significantly impact not only federal regulations but also state and local laws. It would introduce crucial legal questions and necessitate the establishment of a new federal motor vehicle safety standard that differs markedly from existing regulations.
Raviv emphasized that different states currently impose varying testing mandates and licensing requirements for AV deployment, with some states prohibiting driverless operations altogether. He stated that the bill could effectively dismantle the inconsistent regulatory “patchwork” across states.
The draft specifies that vehicles designed with automated driving systems specifically for carrying cargo, like driverless trucks, will not have to include manual controls or equipment for human drivers. This provision allows for the creation of “cab-less” trucks that prioritize aerodynamics over human comfort, potentially reducing weight and increasing cargo capacity.
Furthermore, the legislation establishes a National Automated Vehicle Safety Data Repository, set to replace the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Standing General Order” from 2021, which mandates manufacturers to report crashes involving ADS-equipped vehicles. This data repository will be accessible to state and local transportation agencies, though these agencies will not be able to impose additional crash reporting requirements already covered by the repository.
For the freight sector, specific “covered crashes” must be documented in the repository, as well as quarterly reports on the total miles driven during commercial operations. The information collected will be used to assess the safety performance of autonomous trucks relative to human-operated fleets.
Latta had previously introduced versions of the “SELF DRIVE” legislation in 2017 and 2021, but those drafts purposefully excluded autonomous trucks to avoid labor-related tensions. Whether the current legislation will progress further than its predecessors remains uncertain, with Raviv mentioning it might be included in this year’s highway bill reauthorization.
