The AMERICA DRIVES Act clarifies federal authority over autonomous vehicle operations by allowing fully self-driving commercial trucks (Level 4 and Level 5 automated systems) to operate on interstate highways without a human driver on board or controlling the vehicle remotely. The bill preempts state laws that might require a human driver in autonomous vehicles, establishing uniform national standards for this emerging technology. It affects trucking companies and autonomous vehicle manufacturers by directing the Department of Transportation to update regulations by September 30, 2027, to clarify how existing rules on driver licensing, drug testing, hours of service, and other requirements apply (or don't apply) when vehicles operate without human drivers. The legislation also prevents regulators from creating rules that unfairly burden autonomous vehicle operators compared to traditional trucking companies, and makes technical adjustments to accommodate autonomous driving equipment without counting it toward vehicle width restrictions.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.