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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hearing on Autonomous Trucks

 

The U.S. Senate will convene a hearing Sep 13th, titled “Transportation Innovation: Automated Trucks and our Nation’s Highways” at 10:00 a.m.

The hearing will examine the benefits of automated truck safety technology as well as the potential impacts on jobs and the economy. Including or excluding trucks, buses, and other heavy duty vehicles has been a topic of discussion in ongoing bipartisan efforts to draft self-driving vehicle legislation.

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will steer the hearing. “Self-driving technology for trucks and other large vehicles has emerged as a pivotal issue in Congress’ attempt to help usher in a new era of transportation,” said Thune. “This hearing will offer all members of the Commerce Committee the opportunity to hear expert testimony on the future highway safety benefits of applying automated technology to trucks as well as perspectives on excluding trucks from legislation affecting passenger cars.”

In attendance will be American Trucking Associations president Chris Spear; along with Troy Clarke, chief executive officer of Navistar; Ken Hall of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Deborah Hersman, president and chief executive officer of National Safety Council; and Colonel Scott G. Hernandez, Chief, Colorado State Patrol.

The hearing comes just a week after the House unanimously approved legislation to speed the deployment of self-driving cars by putting federal regulators in the driver’s seat and barring states from blocking autonomous vehicles. That legislation did not include commercial vehicles.

The hearing will take place in Russell Senate Office Building, Room 253. Witness testimony, opening statements, and a live video of the hearing will be available at www.commerce.senate.gov.