With Gov. Gavin Newsom’s support, California lawmakers and agencies have enacted some of the most anti-trucker rules. But as the state legislature seeks to tap the brakes on allowing driverless semis to replace flesh-and-blood CDL holders, Newsom appears to be breaking ranks with his own party.
The governor who backed the notorious AB5 law effectively banning owner-operators now wants to oust men and women who earn a living working for fleet operations in the name of progress.
“Since 2012, California has undergone a long and thoughtful regulatory process to permit autonomous passenger vehicles and other light-duty vehicles, and the state is currently developing its permitting framework for autonomous heavy-duty trucks,” a letter from Gov. Newsom’s office states. “The bill fails to recognize that the federal government and nearly a dozen other states are moving forward with this technology. And many of those states are actively positioning themselves to lure away California-based companies and the investments and jobs they bring.”
Following AB5, the Golden State ramped up diesel truck emissions standards and banned their sale. The high cost of electric semis and their short range make them cost-prohibitive for many freight carriers. The jobs Newsom’s office speaks of won’t be those of truckers.
“The real problem in California has not been Democrats versus Republicans. The real problem has been these elite tech billionaire bros who have decided they’re going to implement their classist policies on California,” California Labor Federation chief Lorena Gonzalez reportedly said. “All of this sounds really cool at a cocktail party, but I’m not interested in conversations at a cocktail party. I’m interested in real conversations about real workers.”
Newsom has taken a different approach to dealing with a bill placing a moratorium on autonomous trucks. Political insiders note the governor has typically waited until a bill lands on his desk before giving it the thumbs up or veto. This go-round, Newsom has reportedly gone on the offensive to kill the proposed law.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has thrown its support behind an autonomous vehicle ban. The union also backed AB5, which forced truckers to sign on as employees. State lawmakers have indicated they fear putting trucks over 10,000 pounds on the road without human control. Although few lightweight autonomous passenger vehicles are on the road, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported more than 400 crashes as of January 2023 and 18 fatalities.
Sources:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-06/ADAS-L2-SGO-Report-June-2022.pdf
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/23/gavin-newsom-autonomous-vehicles-00112358
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