Autonomous vehicles

Scope

Information regarding autonomous vehicles can apply to carriers, drivers, and employers.

Regulatory citations

• None

Key definitions

• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): These systems consist of technology designed to assist drivers and increase safety.
• Autonomous vehicles (AVs): AVs are vehicles with self-driving technologies and capabilities.
• Platooning: Platooning utilizes vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology to electronically “tether” vehicles together, allowing trucks to drive within 40 feet of each other at highway speeds to increase efficiency.

Summary of requirements

Involvement and oversight

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): FMCSA is actively promoting AVs as a potentially new, safer technology but has yet to change regulations. Possible regulatory areas that could be affected by future changes are Parts 393, 396, 391, and 395 as well as the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
• State regulations: States are overseeing testing. There is a patchwork of requirements or regulations from state to state. National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Autonomous Vehicles State Bill Tracking Database (ncsl.org) contains legislation beginning with 2017 by state, topic, keyword, year, status or primary sponsor. New measures are added quarterly and you can search the database for testing in any state.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): NHTSA is currently developing standards for AVS while trying not to stifle innovation. However, NHTSA is tracking AV testing in the AV Test Initiative database which is a tool to find AV testing going on in any state with all types of AVs.

Levels of automation

• Level 0 – Momentary driver assistance: The driver is fully responsible for the vehicle with warnings or momentary driving assistance with braking.
• Level 1 – Driver assistance: The driver is responsible for the vehicle, but the vehicle can control speed, braking, or steering.
• Level 2 – Additional driver assistance: The driver is fully responsible for driving while the system can continuously assist with acceleration, braking, and steering.
• Level 3 – Conditional automation: The system handles all aspects of driving, but the driver is available to take over if the system can no longer operate.
• Level 4 – High automation: When engaged, the system is responsible for driving, and a human is not needed to operate the vehicle in a limited area under specific conditions.
• Level 5 – Full automation: When engaged, the system is responsible for driving under all conditions on all roadways, and a human is not needed to operate the vehicle.

Operational uses of AVs

Nearly all test moves and operational uses of AVs are being done with at least one driver or “safety engineer” in the vehicle. There are very few true driverless operations with commercial motor vehicle AVs on public roadways at this time.

AVs are being tested and used in many areas, including but not limited to:

• Passenger mobility shuttles,
• Terminal to terminal or hub to hub long hauls,
• Yard management trailer moves,
• Port facility moves (intra-facility), and
• Last mile deliveries.

Platooning

Platooning utilizes V2V technology to “tether” vehicles together. The speed and braking of the platoon are managed by the platoon leader’s vehicle through the V2V system. If the platoon leader encounters a hazard that requires braking, the V2V system will apply the brakes on all vehicles in the platoon. Once the hazard has been cleared, the leader and the platoon will accelerate back up to cruising speed. The drivers of the following vehicles (the platoon members) just need to steer and make sure the V2V system is working correctly.

One issue to be aware of is that platooning is treated as a pilot program in the states that allow it. This means you will need to work with the state department of transportation or state patrol in the states you want to platoon vehicles in.