Teamsters weigh in on federal laws for autonomous vehicles

Simply earlier than a Home subcommittee heard testimony from and requested inquiries to 4 witnesses in a listening to on autonomous vehicles, the most important trucking union weighed in by itself.

On Tuesday, the Worldwide Brotherhood of Teamsters launched what it known as a “guiding doc” for federal policymakers to handle points with autonomous automobiles. The union mentioned the doc, Autonomous Automobile Federal Coverage Ideas, “arrives at a essential time claiming accidents attributable to self-driving vehicles and vehicles “hurt households and put communities in danger throughout the nation.”

“Lots of of hundreds of Teamsters flip a key for a dwelling, so we’re fiercely dedicated to working with Congress and federal regulators to get AV coverage proper,” mentioned Teamsters Normal President Sean M. O’Brien. “Sturdy federal AV insurance policies should prioritize each employees and security. Any laws that places employees and most of the people in danger shall be met with aggressive opposition by the Teamsters and our allies.”

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The Teamsters outlined 5 rules they mentioned Congress and federal regulators should comply with for a federal AV coverage that protects employees and enforces security requirements, together with:

• Regulating the car: The federal authorities has authority over car manufacturing and efficiency requirements and should apply these authorities to self-driving vehicles and vehicles;
• Regulating the operator: Federal Motor Service Security Administration (FMCSA) regulates the driving force of economic automobiles, and the circumstances and security situations during which they function;
• Regulating operations: The Dept. of Transportation and FMCSA possess quite a few regulatory authorities associated to the secure operations of automobiles and the flexibility of carriers to obtain authority to start and proceed operations;
• Interplay with different legal guidelines: Congress should take into account points that will come up from the connection between current legislation and the efforts to legislate and regulate AVs; and
• Workforce impacts: Congress can’t entertain any legislative package deal coping with self-driving vehicles and vehicles that doesn’t straight and forcefully handle points associated to the workforce, and any altering operational or financial situations that happen as the results of AV commercialization.

Congress should act as a robust urge for food exists amongst lawmakers on either side of the aisle to handle points with AVs. Later this week, the U.S. Home of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit will maintain a listening to to debate self-driving vehicles.

“On behalf of the 1.2 million Teamsters who both drive a truck or are anticipated share the street with AVs, we strongly urging the adoption of those proposals. Lawmakers have to step up and get this performed now,” O’Brien mentioned.