Latest news with #JeffFarrah
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Automakers want US to move faster on self-driving car rules
WASHINGTON, June 26 (Reuters) - Major automakers want Congress and the Trump administration to move faster to make it easier to deploy autonomous vehicles without human controls as new robotaxi tests expand. Congress has been divided for years about whether to pass legislation to address deployment hurdles, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not moved quickly to rewrite safety rules or allow exemptions for up to 2,500 vehicles without human controls annually and ease other hurdles. "The auto industry wants, it needs a functioning and effective auto safety regulator. We don't have that today," said Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella at a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on Thursday. "The agency isn't nimble. Rulemakings take too long if they come at all." Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association Director Jeff Farrah urged Congress to pass long-stalled nationwide legislation to allow the United States to globally lead on AVs as China moves aggressively in the field. "Right now we are fighting with one hand tied behind our back," Farrah said. Companies have pushed for more action for years. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in April that a new department framework to boost autonomous vehicles would help U.S. automakers compete with Chinese rivals. Earlier this month, NHTSA said it would speed reviews of requests from automakers to deploy self-driving vehicles without required human controls like steering wheels, brake pedals or mirrors. Representative Frank Pallone of New Jersey, a Democrat, cited reports showing NHTSA has lost as much as 35% of its expert staff this year through layoffs and other exits, which puts the ability of the agency to function at risk. NHTSA said "significantly fewer people have left" than Pallone suggested and that it remains "staffed to continue to conduct all safety- and mission-critical work" and is boosting its Office of Autonomous Safety. Meanwhile, U.S. traffic deaths remain sharply above pre-COVID levels. Despite falling 3.8% in 2024 to 39,345, they are still significantly higher than the 36,355 killed in 2019 and double the average rate of other high-income countries. "NHTSA is failing to meet the moment," Insurance Institute for Highway Safety President David Harkey told lawmakers. "In recent years, it has approached its job with a lack of urgency, using flawed methodologies that underestimate the safety benefits of obviously beneficial interventions," he said. NHTSA routinely fails to write regulations even when directed by Congress and has often gone years without a Senate-confirmed leader.
Axios
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
Driverless trucks are rolling in Texas, ushering in new era
Drivers along a 200-mile stretch of I-45 between Dallas and Houston should get ready for something new: the semi-truck in the next lane might not have anyone in the driver's seat. Why it matters: Autonomous trucking companies have been testing their fleets on Texas highways for several years, but always with backup safety drivers in the cab. Now, one company, Aurora Innovation, says it's ready to go completely driverless, a key milestone that promises to reshape the trucking industry. Driving the news: After years of development, Pittsburgh-based Aurora is launching commercial driverless operations this month on a popular freight route between Dallas and Houston. The first autonomous truck is expected to roll down I-45 in the coming days, although Aurora officials declined to share any details. The company has said it will begin slowly, with one truck, and will gradually expand the fleet over time. The big picture: Trucking is the backbone of the American economy, yet the industry is strained by high driver turnover rates, supply chain inefficiencies and rising costs. Autonomous trucks can help alleviate these challenges, advocates say. Critics, however, worry about inadequate safety oversight, cybersecurity threats and job reductions. What they're saying:"Everybody is looking at the same economics," Jeff Farrah, CEO of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, tells Axios. "The federal government is saying we have to move 50% more freight by 2050, but there's a shortage of drivers. How do I solve this puzzle with more freight to move and less drivers to do it?" The other side: Members of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association are skeptical of AV trucking companies' safety claims, especially since there are no federal regulations for AVs. "It's absurd that AVs, which are unproven and unmanned, are given more latitude on American highways than professional drivers with years of experience like me are given," Lewie Pugh, the group's executive vice president, said in an interview. AV companies are self-regulated, while drivers are subject to many federal rules. Drivers are required to take regular breaks for safety reasons, for example, while AV trucks can operate 24/7 — better efficiency, the industry argues. Where it stands: At least 10 companies are known to be developing driverless technology for trucks. Most expect to "pull the driver" — or go fully autonomous — on public roads later this year or sometime in 2026. They all plan to begin in Texas, known for its vital freight corridors, favorable regulatory policies and good weather. Kodiak Robotics, which intends to go public soon, says it has already surpassed 750 hours of driving on private roads across West Texas's Permian Basin without a human driver on board. How it works: Most AV companies plan to license their driverless technology to truck manufacturers. Those manufacturers then sell or lease the automated trucks to fleet customers. Under this "driver-as-a-service" model, those fleet customers pay for virtual drivers by the mile, but still manage their own logistics operations. Between the lines: Trucking and logistics providers have strong financial incentives for automation. The industry has struggled to attract enough long-haul drivers, despite big incentives, because of the grueling nature of the job. Without driver salaries, fleet operators could reduce their operating costs per mile by as much as 42 percent, according to a McKinsey analysis, even with the added costs of the AV technology and new operations centers to monitor the trucks remotely. What to watch: Autonomous heavy-duty trucks will account for 13 percent of trucks on U.S. roads in 2035, according to McKinsey projections.
