Waymo, UPS, others pressure Gov. Newsom to allow autonomous trucking in California

The California Department of Motor Vehicles banned the operation of self-driving trucks in the state in 2015.

In 2012 California began regulating self-drive cars, and has been the main battleground for the industry. Last week, Cruise began charging for fully self-drive rides, and recently opened up testing for employees in San Francisco The regulations of the Department of Motor Vehicles do not allow the testing or deployment of vehicles weighing more than 10,001 lbs.

Texas, the state that is getting all of Silicon Valley's tax refugees, has been home to most of the nation's automated trucking operations. The states of Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Nevada and Colorado have testing and deployment regulations.

The state of California has been a leader in regulating lightweight automated vehicles, specifically for robotaxis, but those behind the letter argue that without updated trucking regulations, the state will fall behind.

The letter states that California is at risk of losing its competitive edge without regulations. As the industry deploys new pilot programs, builds critical infrastructure, and creates the 21st century jobs California's businesses need to grow, investment is limited to other states.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation, an advocacy group with a mission to maintain Silicon Valley's place as the international capital of tech innovation, found that automated trucking could increase the state's economy by $6.5 billion or more.

In states where trucking is legal and regulated, companies are testing and setting up the infrastructure for a commercial service.

For example, Waymo Via has been doubling down on its transfer hub network in Texas, which allows the company to engage a mixed automated and manual trucking approach.

The letter was signed by a range of industry advocates, from AV tech companies like Waabi, Embark and Einride, to Logistics companies like DHL Supply Chains, to members of various California chambers of commerce and more.

California recently passed a law that requires all light duty self driving vehicles to be electric by the year 2030. The group is more focused on getting the green light to put heavy duty trucks on the road rather than ensuring the safety of self-driving cars.

The president and CEO of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce said that they are at a standstill. It is almost too far in advance of a question to discuss whether or not they should be electric or gas powered. We need to figure out what the requirements are so that we can reply to them. This is a log jam that needs to go away so other things can open up.

A group of seven California legislators wrote a letter to the governor in May. The note requested information from the administration on the steps the Department of Motor Vehicles has taken to understand emerging heavy-duty trucking technology and its implications in California, as well as when the rulemaking process for heavy-duty trucking will begin.