CA Teamsters, Officials Revive Bill for AV Human Operators

TL/DR -

The Teamsters, a prominent American labor union, along with California lawmakers and other labor allies, have introduced legislation, Assembly Bill 2286 (AB 2286), requiring a trained human operator behind the wheel of self-driving trucks weighing more than 10,000 lbs. The bill was earlier introduced in 2023 and received a high level of support with more than 90% of California lawmakers and nearly three-quarters of California voters supporting it. The Teamsters are pushing for this legislation in the wake of accidents involving autonomous vehicles, emphasizing the importance of safety and the protection of good-paying driving jobs.

Legislation to Safeguard Middle-Class Jobs and Motorist Safety

Press Contact: Matt McQuaid Phone: (202) 624-6877 Email: mmcquaid@teamster.org

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – Teamsters, California lawmakers, and labor allies gathered for the reintroduction of legislation mandating a trained human operator for self-driving trucks over 10,000 lbs. Assembly Bill 2286 (AB 2286), formerly AB 316, is part of the CARS package advocated by Teamsters. Watch the full event here.

“As autonomous vehicle companies try pushing their technology onto our roads, legislation like AB 2286 is vital to protect our streets and jobs,” said Peter Finn, Teamsters International Western Region Vice President. “We cannot allow driverless heavy vehicles on our roads without a human operator."

The AV human operator bill, introduced by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry in 2023, received overwhelming bipartisan support. A 2023 poll showed three-quarters of California voters support having a human operator for autonomous trucks.

“The Legislature’s role in deciding when autonomous trucking is safe is critical. This bill isn't a ban on technology, it ensures a Human Safety Operator,” said Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. “We will not allow profits over people."

“AB 2286 ensures a trained human operator for autonomous trucks, putting safety first,” said Chris Griswold, Teamsters International Vice President At-Large. "We've learned autonomous vehicles aren't ready for prime time."

After Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 316 in 2023, robotaxis have caused chaos on California streets. The cruise robotaxi incident and a near collision with children are reminders of the risks.

Teamsters were joined by Assemblymembers Tom Lackey and Laura Friedman. Julia Sandoval, a Recology driver and member of Teamsters Local 350 asked California officials to listen to professional drivers in order to protect public safety and middle-class prosperity.

The Teamsters are committed to protecting jobs, ensuring safer roads, and giving local communities a say in AV regulation. They recently held a rally to announce the introduction of SB 915, a bill giving local municipalities more authority over regulations.

Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and like us on Facebook.com/teamsters.

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