Abstract:
The U.S. Department of Transportation said late Wednesday it had granted Aurora and other self-driving truck companies a five-year exemption from regulations requiring drivers to place warning devices around parked trucks. The decision marks an important step toward widespread deployment of commercial self-driving trucks in the United States.
In 2023, Alphabet's Google's self-driving unit Waymo and Aurora jointly applied for an exemption from relevant U.S. regulations that require reflective triangles to be placed outside stopped trucks to help prevent accidents.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said on Wednesday it has agreed to allow self-driving truck companies to use warning lights mounted on truck cabs to avoid the need for human drivers, saying the lights provide an equal or greater level of safety.
In April of this year, Aurora submitted a new separate application seeking a five-year exemption.
Aurora, which currently has about 20 self-driving trucks operating on the road, said Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Transportation's "decision highlights the government's recognition of the tremendous economic and social benefits that self-driving trucks will bring. High-visibility cab-mounted warning lights are a critical 21st century solution that instantly alert other road users, thereby improving roadside safety without putting people at risk."
Businesses planning to use this exemption must notify the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in advance and disclose any vehicle accidents that occurred when the overhead cab warning light was or should have been activated. The agency said it would revoke exemptions if they result in safety levels lower than those maintained before approval.
In early 2025, Aurora sued the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration over its decision not to grant the exemption during the Biden administration. In October 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a three-month temporary exemption allowing the use of the warning light (the exemption was subsequently extended multiple times), and the company subsequently withdrew its lawsuit.
Comments