Driverless trucks seek exemption to avoid regulatory roadblock An autonomous trucking company seeks a long-term exemption that could open the door to thousands of driverless trucks operating on the nation’s highways. Aurora Operations, which is currently operating under a limited waiver, is requesting a five-year exemption from a federal regulation requiring truck drivers to place warning devices around the truck when stopped on a highway shoulder. The exemption request was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, April 15. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will accept comments about Aurora’s request through May 15. “FMCSA requests public comment on Aurora Operations’ application for a five-year exemption to allow commercial motor vehicles equipped with a Level 4 automated driving system to use a set of cab-mounted warning beacons instead of placing reflective warning triangles or fuses around the stopped vehicle,” the agency wrote. If granted, the exemption would apply to Aurora and other motor carriers operating Level 4 ADS-equipped commercial motor vehicles that provide FMCSA with advance written notice. The rule, which aims to alert other drivers when a commercial motor vehicle is stopped, requires the driver to take immediate action. Whenever a commercial motor vehicle is stopped upon the traveled portion or the shoulder of a highway for any cause other than necessary traffic stops, the driver shall, as soon as possible, but in any event within 10 minutes, place the warning devices … in the following manner: - One on the traffic side and four paces – approximately 10 feet – from the stopped commercial motor vehicle in the direction of approaching traffic - One at 40 paces – approximately 100 feet – from the stopped commercial motor vehicle in the center of the traffic lane or shoulder occupied by the commercial motor vehicle and in the direction of