Sacramento, CA – In a move welcomed by the tech industry, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a controversial bill on September 23, 2023 that would have required human safety drivers in all self-driving trucks operating in the state.
Assembly Bill 316, passed by the legislature in July, mandated that autonomous trucks have human drivers present until at least 2030. Supporters including labor unions argued this was necessary for safety and to protect jobs.
However, in his veto message, Newsom asserted the bill was “unnecessary” given California’s existing AV regulatory framework. He said the bill would “stifle innovation” and limit economic growth in the technology and transportation sectors, which are major contributors to California’s economy.
The veto is a major victory for autonomous vehicle developers like Waymo and TuSimple who have been testing and developing self-driving trucks in California. It also benefits trucking firms eager to adopt cost-cutting driverless tech, including industry leaders such as J.B. Hunt Transport Services, UPS, and FedEx.
All of these companies faced strong opposition from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who claimed robotrucks threatened truckers’ jobs and safety on California’s roads and highways. But Newsom stated California’s continued leadership role as a hub of AV innovation took priority.
His veto enables companies to continue advancing self-driving tech in the state unimpeded. This will likely accelerate ongoing deployments of driverless trucks across California.
Robotruck backers will probably ramp up testing and commercial operations following the veto. Still, the legislature could attempt to override the veto, though that hasn’t occurred since 1979.
For now, California remains wide open for revolutionary driverless truck development. Newsom’s veto signals the state actively welcomes the safety, efficiency, and economic benefits promised by autonomous vehicle innovators.
The trucking industry will be watching closely to see if his veto sparks an autonomous trucking boom in California. This could lead to significant job losses among human drivers.
Safety advocates are also concerned and will look for ways to ensure driverless trucks meet stringent safety standards. But the veto makes clear that for now, California’s government prioritizes innovation over potentially burdensome regulation.
