The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has denied a petition from Waymo LLC and Aurora Operations, seeking an exemption to replace traditional roadside warning devices, like reflective triangles or road flares, with cab-mounted beacons on autonomous trucks. The petition, filed in 2023, aimed to eliminate the requirement for ground-based devices in the event of a breakdown when no human driver is present. However, federal regulators determined that the data provided by the companies was insufficient to justify such a broad exemption.
Lack of Data on Safety Concerns
The FMCSA's Deputy Administrator, Vinn White, issued a denial due to the limited evidence presented by Waymo and Aurora. The companies argued that traditional warning devices were impractical for autonomous vehicles, as there would be no driver to deploy them in case of an emergency. However, the agency found that the studies submitted did not adequately demonstrate that cab-mounted beacons could offer the same level of safety as the traditional devices.
One major concern raised was the positioning of the beacons. Unlike warning triangles, which are placed at both the front and rear of the vehicle, the proposed beacons would only be mounted on the front of the cab. This creates a potential visibility issue, as drivers may see the rear of a stopped truck before noticing the beacons. "The evidence was inconclusive on whether approaching motorists would be adequately warned of a stopped truck," White stated.
Support for the Decision
Safety and labor groups were quick to applaud the FMCSA’s decision. Zach Cahalan, Executive Director of the Truck Safety Coalition, stressed that the burden of proving safety should fall on autonomous truck manufacturers. "The paucity of data requires that DOT not unnecessarily risk the lives of the 200+ million roadway users," Cahalan said.
Todd Spencer, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), also expressed concerns about relying on technology that could fail. “Reflective triangles and flares are not reliant on technology systems that are vulnerable to disruptions,” Spencer noted, highlighting the risks of relying on unproven tech for safety.
Labor Concerns and Industry Opposition
The petition also faced criticism from labor groups, including the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department. Greg Regan, the department’s president, criticized the petition as an effort to reduce jobs in the trucking industry. "This request is highly unorthodox," Regan said, pointing out that it sought an exemption for all autonomous trucks, without sufficient safety data.
The FMCSA acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing that such broad exemptions are granted only in rare circumstances. The agency noted that the petition lacked comprehensive data on how the proposed changes would affect safety, particularly given the diversity of autonomous truck fleets.
Possibility of Future Exemption
Although the petition was denied, the FMCSA left open the possibility for future applications. If Waymo and Aurora can present more compelling evidence showing that cab-mounted beacons would provide the same or better safety than traditional devices, they may resubmit their request.
In the meantime, the denial underscores the ongoing challenge of integrating autonomous vehicles into the trucking industry, with safety concerns remaining a priority.
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