U.S. Bill Seeks to Create Federal Standards for Autonomous Trucks

For the first time, an initiative to establish a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for the deployment of autonomous trucks in the country is included in a surface transportation reauthorization bill. The proposal aims to replace the current patchwork of state regulations with a single federal standard for commercial vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS) at Levels 3, 4, and 5.

The bill is included in the text of the BUILD America 250 Act introduced by the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bipartisan five-year proposal includes investments in highways, bridges, public transportation, rail systems, and road safety programs.

According to trucking industry leaders such as Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak AI, the legislation would allow Americans to benefit from the economic and safety advantages offered by autonomous driving technology.

Peter Vaughn Schmidt, CEO of Torc, stated that the industry needs a nationwide approach that prioritizes safety and establishes a clear path for the responsible deployment of this technology.

Safety and Cybersecurity Requirements for Autonomous Trucks

The bill requires a human operator to be inside the vehicle when autonomous trucks transport minors, such as in school buses, or placarded hazardous materials.

In addition, for Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous systems, manufacturers will assume the responsibilities that would normally belong to the human driver during real-time operation whenever the autonomous system is activated within its operational design domain.

The proposal also authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish additional training and licensing requirements for remote assistants or remote drivers, as well as limits on the number of autonomous vehicles that a single remote operator may supervise simultaneously.

Manufacturers will be required to demonstrate to the Department of Transportation that autonomous vehicles provide a level of safety equal to or greater than that of a truck operated by a human driver. This will be achieved through testing of hardware, software, sensor integration, autonomy levels, and validation environments.

In addition, manufacturers must implement strict cybersecurity plans that include protocols to detect attacks or false commands, incident response plans, and designated personnel responsible for digital security management. The bill also requires visual or digital alert systems to warn other road users when the vehicle enters a minimal risk condition.

The legislation directs the Department of Transportation to establish reporting requirements aligned with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standards. Operators and manufacturers must report crashes involving fatalities, serious injuries, collisions with vulnerable road users, airbag deployments, or vehicle towing.

Workforce Impact and Training

The initiative includes a workforce grant program with initial funding of $27.5 million for fiscal year 2027, gradually increasing to $29.5 million by 2031. These funds will be used to train commercial driver’s license holders, mechanics, and technicians in the operation, inspection, and maintenance of autonomous trucks.

Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Transportation to create a regulatory advisory committee composed of representatives from technology companies, truck manufacturers, law enforcement agencies, labor unions, and transportation industry stakeholders to continuously update safety and inspection standards.

As a result, autonomous trucks could strengthen supply chains, improve road safety, and reinforce the United States’ leadership in advanced transportation technology.