Indiana Teamsters Urge Lawmakers to Act on Autonomous Vehicles

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The Teamsters recently advocated for House Bill 1022 and Senate Bill 57 in the Indiana General Assembly’s Roads and Transportation Committee. These bills require the presence of human operators in driverless trucks, aiming to safeguard middle-class jobs and ensure safety on the roads. They argue that automation in the trucking industry, which contributed over $11 billion in wages in 2021, could negatively impact both the private and public sectors in Indiana.

Senate Bill 57 and House Bill 1022 Key for Job Protection and Road Safety

Teamsters recently advocated for House Bill 1022, a bill advocating for human operators in driverless trucks, in the Indiana General Assembly's Roads and Transportation Committee. This bill and Senate Bill 57 aim to secure jobs and enhance road safety in Indiana.

Chuck Whobrey, President of Teamsters Local 215 and Vice President of Teamsters Joint Council 94, expressed gratitude towards Representative Cindy Ledbetter, Representative Jim Pressel, and Senator Jim Tomes, urging for a vote on HB 1022 and a hearing on SB 57.

Harvey Jackson, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 142, highlighted the widespread support for HB 1022, from public safety professionals to the general public. He stressed that a majority of voters, irrespective of party affiliation, prefer human operators for vehicles on road.

Michael Kuntz, a Local 135 member, outlined the economic impact of job loss due to automation in the trucking industry, which contributed over $11 billion in wages in 2021, thus impacting state and local taxes, small businesses, charities, and household income throughout Indiana.

Local 135 member William Honey, who gained attention for using his truck to save lives during a high-speed chase, called on the assembly to support HB 1022, emphasizing the limitations of driverless trucks in dealing with unforeseen situations on the road.

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