The new FMCSA Administrator was sworn in on Wednesday. The very next day he gave a speech in which he declared that, under his leadership, the agency will take a “flexible regulatory approach” when it comes to the development of autonomous driving technologies.
Raymond P. Martinez received Senate confirmation on his new post on February 13th, but wasn’t sworn in until this past Wednesday. During the DOT’s public listening summit on automated vehicle policy on Thursday, Martinez laid out the Administration’s stance on autonomous commercial vehicles.
According to Fleetowner, Martinez said that the FMCSA’s job is to “ensure automated vehicles are tested, developed, and deployed safely.” But Martinez also claimed that the Administration is prepared to change or repeal any regulations which would be a hinderance to the development of the new technology. According to Martinez, the FMCSA will be “embracing a future” where autonomous trucks improve safety and stimulate the economy.
This stance is consistent with his boss, DOT Secretary Elaine Chao, who said during a speech to AASHTO that “we are in the midst of a transportation transformation and the future is already here.”
Martinez has previously served as the chairman and chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and as the commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
I wouldn’t expect anything less from a moron beauracrat with zero truck driving experience. Career politicians who are appointed are typically for sale to the highest bidder, willing to do the administration’s beck and call.
Couldn’t agree more
I agree!
The government and the FMCSA can holler new regulations are all about safety but their latest stunt goes to further prove they have no problem putting the motoring public at risk so that people like Elon Musk can develop new technology and use the same roads as the public as its testing grounds
More stupidity allowed to govern an industry they’ve never worked in. Make sure to tell your families and friends to sue the FMCSA and the leadership when they get killed.
Yep. Putting millions of hard working truck drivers out of work will certainly stimulate the economy. Where do the idiots come from.
They come from the same place that designed farm tractors and combine harvesters.
You’ll be fine. Just as all of the farmers that had to quit farming are.
I hate how they always hide behind safety and environment. It’s not about neither one it’s about money power and control.
No. It’s about the fact that automation is a reality. Why should they care about you any more than what anyone cared about blacksmiths?
You are right Gary. While three million drivers stimulate the economy by paying rent, utilities, food, cars, etc it seems smarter to give the company owners all of the money from the labor instead. I am sure they will put an equal amount back in right? I mean the govt is run by the sharpest and brightest, so I trust this has been thought through. Be that as it may, no computer geek will ever, and I mean ever, program a truck to do what I do. One word, liability. I take alot of risks everyday out of necessity because cars don’t just wait as you back across four lane roads.
Now , what happens when a tire blows or something breaks , is the autonomus truck going to stop to get it fixed or is it just going to keep on trucking ?How about D.O.T. checks???
The developers have said that a driver needs to be in the seat for those situations. So, we will still have a job, it’ll be a boring one. Add another way for America to be lazy.
On call service just like with your manned truck.
Duh.
Oh boy! It’s a great feeling knowing that my government is concerned about my wellbeing and ability to work. NOT!!
I hope an autonomous truck full of dildos hits him. At least I will know the truck has stimulated something
Weaken my nation before it’s enemies. Already I can have entire networks shut down for the price of a keg of beer and a bag of weed. Electronic and autonomous technology is a weakness that strips the economy of it’s most important core component. People. We lose entire skill sets,due to technology,and all we gain is wealthy corporations in exchange. Our enemies, will take out our entire grid in mere seconds, and no humans will retain the skills to do the jobs manually anymore.
Yeppers! It’s like the movie “Wall-e”. A shipload of people having robots do everything for them while they ride on chairs.
For years we have let the politicians do what ever they wanted and the results are mileage pay instead of hourly, no overtime or time and a half, we are responsible for every aspect of the truck and are forced to babysit the companies truck when we are off work, shippers and delivery points along with our employers take advantage of our free time like they own us, but we still sit and do nothing. Unions were there to protect working people but most are now gone along with decent wages, pensions, and early retirement. One good drivers strike and union membership and we would get so many things. CEO’s now go home with more than 1/2 of the wages we should be collecting but we just became complacent and dumb. It is way we now have to work 70hours+ a week and why we will be working until we drop dead. Vote for things to be better end citizens united and stop the purchasing of candidates by corporate America it is our own fault if we do nothing to fix the problem.
If every truck driver and every other working person is laid off by some sort of robot who will show up the the big box stores to spend a payday?
USA becomes a third world nation with the fat cats in the castle on the hill. The only jobs left for young men will be to join the army to protect the Corporado Robber Barrons from the hungry populations of honest people who would chose work over madness if only it were available.
Wow well spoken,very well spoken!!!!!!!
Can’t have autonomous trucks unless you have 100% autonomous 4-wheelers.
Amen J carter.
You betcha. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Boooooo!👎
Always, always follow the $MONEY!
It will lead you to the truth.
What about the people…? All you people car about is your own pockets. We move the world..products goods, and everything you can think of touches a tractor trailer. Damn you all for trying to take the jobs away.
Y’all don’t have to worry. It will be many, many years before autonomous trucks get going; then it will end shortly thereafter, when people start getting killed by driverless trucks. Sad, sad.
Why do they think this is such a great idea to have autonomous trucks? Every article is all positive themed like their just itching to get rid of millions of truck drivers……. Truck driving is a great career and saved my life I started with nothing 6 years ago, acquired my cdl and now I have a home,vehicles,atvs,snowmobiles, bills are paid family is fed no worries anymore.Now they want to take Our jobs away ?And take them away as quickly as possible (change or repeal any regulations that will hinder the advancement of this technology) What then? Welfare? Turn to crime? Drugs alcohol violence because no purpose in life and nothing to do Day after day ? I don’t think everyone who is inventing and pushing all this technology is going to enjoy the new world they create……
“Change or repeal any regulations that will hinder the advancement of this technology.” Hmm🤔, does that mean if one of our elected officials who understands the harm this technology can or does do, and submits legislation to change or block the advancement so it’s not hurting anyone or anything, DOT will block said legislation? How far is the ATA and OOIDA willing to stick their necks out about this technology. Are they secretly in the pocket of DOT? Causes one to stop and think, eh?
I say we park our truck now and everybody apply for food stamps.No wait a minute there will be no food if there are no drivers delivering it.These people better wake up and smell the roses,because we still have the power to kill this economy and everyone .It will take decades to transfer over to this technology.So just keep in mind who is feeding you.
No wait I got it,I will park my truck and get on food stamps.You people just keep doing what you are doing and bring the food to my grocery store.See you on the lake,no wait I won’t because you will be working for peanuts and won’t have time to come to the lake.Anyway keep on trucking suckers.
Corporate thuggery and greed is going to be the catalyst for the next revolutionary war. We either stand together or be unemployed and homeless !!!
Trucks with no drivers? Intresting. Thugs will walk into a crowded convience store in broad day light and rob it. Self driving trucks have sensors that when they sense a vehicle in front will adjust it’s speed or come to a complete stop. Can’t wait to see how many unmanned trucks get jacked out on the open road.
I think you have it right.