Some California Lawmakers and Unions Want to Ban Autonomous Trucking

California labor organizers and some members of the state’s legislature are pushing back over a proposal to reverse a ban on autonomous heavy-duty trucks on public roads. Teamsters and lawmakers alike cited safety as a concern for keeping folks behind the wheel of these rigs. A spokesperson for the Teamsters told AutoNews that the bill would act as a “backstop” in case the state DMV decides to allow autonomous trucks on public roadways. This is not just a job for me,” Joe Garner, a member of Teamsters Local 315, told the outlet. AutoNews reports that multiple companies are already testing autonomous trucks in other states — mainly in the Southwest.