The Need for Speed: Senators, Stakeholders Discuss Transport Innovation & Regulatory Reform On June 9th, 2026, members of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety discussed recent breakthroughs in transportation technology and implications for current regulatory structures. The hearing, entitled “The Need for Speed: How Technological Advances Are Driving Transportation Innovation”, brought together stakeholders from industry and labor. Discussion primarily centered on the automated inspection of railroad tracks and on standards for autonomous trucks. Through these cases, members grappled with the more fundamental questions of how the US could encourage innovation while maintaining safety and worker protections. Specifically, they considered whether prescriptive or performance-based regulations are were better suited to handle rapidly-evolving transportation technology. Witnesses - Ian Jeffries, President & CEO, Association of American Railroads (AAR) - Chris Spear, President & CEO, American Trucking Association (ATA) - Laura Chace, President & CEO, Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) - Cole Scandaglia, Deputy Director of Political and Legislative Action, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Automation in the Rail Sector There appeared to be mixed feelings about technological innovation in the rail sector. Ian Jefferies, representing the Association of American Railroads, praised the use of technology to ensure safety and reliability, noting that 2025 was the safest year on record in terms of derailments, equipment-related accidents, and employee injuries. Jefferies attributed the claim to advances in track inspection technology, citing various efforts from freight railroads including automated track geometry inspection (ATI), rail temperature monitoring, automated train inspection portals, and GPS-enabled work zone monitoring. According to Jefferies, these advances in rail technology expand the reach of inspection capabilities, supporting employees in their work rather than replacing them. Jefferies expanded on the rail technology discussion by urging Congress to ensure that regulations keep pace with the innovation in the