California DMV Plans Testing Rules for Driverless Heavy Trucks

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California DMV's new proposal would allow self-driving trucks weighing over 10,001 pounds to be tested on public roads for the first time

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Currently, California stands alone as the only state explicitly banning autonomous heavy-duty vehicles, while Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas already permit such testing.

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Heavy-duty truck manufacturers must log a whopping 500,000 test miles before applying for driverless permits, ten times more than the 50,000 miles required for passenger cars.

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The colony places resin throughout their nests after treating it with formic acid spray to fight bacterial and fungal pathogens.

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Not all trucks make the cut—those hauling hazardous materials, oversize loads, household goods, passengers, or bulk liquids are banned from the program.

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Labor groups worry about job losses for California's commercial truck drivers, after Governor Newsom vetoed a 2023 bill requiring human safety drivers

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The public has until June 9 to comment on the proposal, with a hearing scheduled for June 10 that could reshape California's freight transportation future.

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Companies like Aurora Innovation are already planning to launch driverless trucks in Texas this year, putting pressure on California to keep pace with autonomous trucking tech.

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