Autonomous trucking’s triangle-shaped problem goes to court

Autonomous truck maker Aurora Innovation Inc. is suing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration after the agency denied its request for a five-year exemption from the placement of roadside warning devices in favor of cab-mounted warning beacons (CMWBs).

The filing, submitted Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, argues that the ruling is unlawful, “because it is arbitrary, capricious, [and] an abuse of discretion and otherwise not in accordance with...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/autonomous-truckings-triangle-shaped-problem-goes-to-court

Regulators deny roadside warning exemption for autonomous trucks

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators ruled that autonomous trucking did not provide enough data backing a request to allow traditional warning devices used in roadside breakdowns to be replaced by cab-mounted beacons.

Waymo LLC and Aurora Operations (NASDAQ: AUR) filed a petition in 2023 with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration seeking an exemption – on behalf of the autonomous trucking industry – from rules requiring drivers to display ground-based reflective signs or road flares when a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/regulators-deny-roadside-warning-exemption-for-autonomous-trucks

California Senate votes to ban driverless trucks

The California Senate joined the state Assembly in overwhelmingly voting to ban heavy-duty driverless trucks on state highways. Whether to sign or veto the bill is now up to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The government through Newsom’s business office has been critical of Assembly Bill 316, but he has not said what he will do. The former San Francisco mayor is a big technology backer but also courts labor unions, which are the loudest voices behind the legislation.

Essentially, the bill, which passed Monday...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/california-senate-votes-to-ban-driverless-trucks

Is TuSimple’s patent promo intended to find a buyer?

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In a video and blog post on LinkedIn, a media pitch and in overdue federal filings, TuSimple...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/is-tusimples-patent-promo-intended-to-find-a-buyer

Newsom leans toward allowing autonomous trucking in California

“And as the years go by

Our friendship will never die

You’re gonna see it’s our destiny

You’ve got a friend in me” — Randy Newman

The battle over whether to allow heavy-duty autonomous trucks on highways in California is coming to an end. It would be premature to call the outcome, but Gov. Gavin Newsom is lining up behind advanced technology over organized labor. Both are major constituent groups of the Democratic governor.

Assembly Bill 316 would effectively kill autonomous testing and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/newsom-leans-toward-allowing-autonomous-trucking-in-california

Buying and selling in autonomous trucking developer Aurora Innovation

In a week that saw the field of viable autonomous trucking developers shrink again — more on Waymo Via waving buh-bye for now below — Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR) disclosed that  T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. purchased $125 million of new stock issued in a $600 million private placement. 

Uber Technologies, already a major holder of Aurora shares, added $1 million to its stake in the private placement and 24.66 million shares at $3 each — worth about $74 million — in Aurora’s $220...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/buying-and-selling-in-autonomous-trucking-developer-aurora-innovation

Loaded and Rolling: Yellow exec says bankruptcy coming Monday

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Yellow exec to sales staff: Bankruptcy on Monday

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The saga of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/loaded-and-rolling-yellow-exec-says-bankruptcy-coming-monday

Loaded and Rolling: Driverless truck exemptions; ATRI on driver-facing cameras

To cone or not to cone? Autonomous vehicle makers ask the question

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Trucking safety advocates are at odds with corporate-backed attempts at implementing a roadside safety exemption for autonomous trucks. For those unaware, current regulations require drivers to use three emergency reflective triangles, or at least six fusees or three liquid-burning road flares, if they stop on the road for reasons other than traffic. 

FreightWaves’ John Gallagher noted earlier in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/loaded-and-rolling-driverless-truck-exemptions-atri-on-driver-facing-cameras

Safety groups oppose roadside warning exemption for driverless trucks

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WASHINGTON — Truck safety advocates are warning federal regulators against approving a roadside...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/safety-groups-oppose-roadside-warning-exemption-for-driverless-trucks

¿Los dispositivos de advertencia para camiones parados pasarán a un segundo plano? 

WASHINGTON – Dos compañías de camiones de auto-conducción han dicho a los reguladores que su tecnología para advertir a los automovilistas de un camión detenido en el lado de la carretera es lo suficientemente segura como para reemplazar las señales reflectantes tradicionales y las bengalas de carretera. 

Waymo LLC y Aurora Operations Inc. han pedido a la Administración Federal de Seguridad de Autotransportes que exima durante cinco años a sus camiones altamente automatizados (Nivel 4 y Nivel 5)...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/los-dispositivos-de-advertencia-para-camiones-parados-pasaran-a-un-segundo-plano