California Alliance for Freight Innovation

About CAFI

The members of the California Alliance for Freight Innovation (CAFI) are dedicated to bringing the latest in innovation to transform how freight is moved into, across and through the Golden State, benefiting businesses and consumers.
 
CAFI works with California lawmakers, regulators, and the public to foster innovation and advancement in freight transportation and promote the safe testing and deployment of autonomous trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.

Our diverse group of autonomous truck developers, carriers, shippers, original equipment manufacturers, ecosystem partners, and trade groups share an interest in the significant and diverse benefits presented by autonomous truck technology.

CEOs & Executives Urge Newsom Administration to Move Forward on AV Truck Rulemaking

Read the letter here

Autonomous Trucking in California

What are the benefits of autonomous trucking?

In the coming years, autonomous trucks will fundamentally change the manner and speed in which goods move in our country while making roads safer for everyone. This technology also presents an array of environmental benefits, including greater fuel efficiency, more efficient use of physical infrastructure, reduced congestion, and reduced agricultural spoilage and related preservation of soil and water resources.

Moreover, autonomous long-haul trucking has the potential to broadly benefit the economy by improving the efficiency of countless industries that rely on moving goods on trucks, such as agriculture, retail, and manufacturing.

One study found that autonomous long-haul trucks will grow California’s economy upwards of $6.5 billion or more:
• Increase real GDP and welfare in California by up to 0.35 percent annually,
• Increase output of the “for-hire” trucking industry by 4 percent,
• Increase California’s total employment by approximately 2,400 jobs, and
• Avoid layoffs of California’s truck drivers. 

According to a recent study funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration, automating long-haul trucking will
• spur $111 billion in aggregate investment spending across the U.S. economy,
• increase total U.S. employment by 26,400 to 35,100 jobs per year on average, and
• raise annual earnings for all U.S. workers by more than $200 per worker per year.

The technology also has the capacity to improve the quality of life, productivity and safety for the most valuable resources in the supply chain—the truck drivers who make everything possible and will continue to be a necessary part of the supply chain with any deployment of this technology.

Without quick action, California risks falling behind. 

How can California policymakers facilitate these benefits?

In 2012, the California Legislature directed the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) under CVC § 38750 to adopt regulations by January 1, 2015 allowing for the testing and deployment of any vehicle equipped with autonomous technology. Nevertheless, nearly a decade later, the DMV has yet to adopt regulations allowing for the testing and deployment of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds. As a result, autonomous Class 8 trucks are currently excluded from the California DMV’s autonomous vehicle programs and are therefore unable to test or deploy above SAE Level 2 within the state.

Given the near-term deployment timelines of this technology–with some companies estimating driverless deployment in the next two to five years–we urge the DMV to facilitate the development of this technology by acting to initiate and enact rules to permit Class 8 autonomous truck testing and deployment as required under existing law. Commencing this rulemaking is the necessary first step toward providing the broad and diverse benefits of long-haul automation to all Californians.

When the DMV does initiate the rulemaking, it will have the opportunity to leverage stakeholder expertise on how autonomous trucking can be deployed in a way that maximizes safety and economic benefits. Beginning this discourse will reestablish California’s leadership in thoughtful regulation of autonomous vehicles and enable the state’s supply chain, road users, and broader transportation system to reap the benefits of this technology.

Is there a need for legislation?

There is no need for further legislation at this time. However, the Legislature should encourage the Newsom administration to initiate the DMV rulemaking required under CVC § 38750.

Are other states testing autonomous trucks?

Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Nevada, Colorado, Florida and other states  have clear testing and deployment regulations for autonomous trucks.

Autonomous Trucks in the News

"Evaluating the impact of autonomous long-haul trucking deployment in California"


Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Opinion: California’s economy could benefit from autonomous trucking amid inflation, labor shortages


Long Beach Press-Telegram

Opinion: Sacramento Politics Jeopardize California’s Lead in Autonomous Trucks


Times of San Diego

Opinion: California supply chain needs autonomous trucks jumpstart


San Jose Mercury News

Editorial Board: A Trucker Shortage? Bring on the Robots.


Bloomberg

Trucking's future takes shape as self-driving semi-trucks prepare to drive FedEx packages


CBS News

The Biggest Kink in America’s Supply Chain: Not Enough Truckers


The New York Times

Self-Driving Trucks Could Be Solution to Supply Chain Woes


Cheddar News

How autonomous trucks could fix our broken supply chains


Axios

Let self-driving trucks ease US driver shortage, says Obama’s transport chief


The National

US Xpress CEO on the driver shortage


Fox News

Walmart is using fully driverless trucks to ramp up its online grocery business


CNBC

"Waymo and J.B. Hunt expand autonomous trucking partnership" 


CNET

Study: Autonomous trucking transfer hubs promise huge cost savings


Freight Waves

Self-driving truck company Aurora launches pilot with Uber Freight


Reuters

Our Members

If you're interested in joining our efforts, reach out to info [@] cafreightinnovation [dot] org

American Trucking Associations

Aurora

Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA)

AUVSI

Bridgestone Americas

Brulte and Company

Chamber of Progress

Consumer Technology Association

Daimler Trucks North America

Embark Trucks

Kodiak Robotics

Locomation

NVIDIA

Plus

Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Spartan Radar

TechNet

TuSimple

Uber Freight

U.S. Xpress

Velodyne

Waymo

Sign Up for Updates

Sign up for updates on autonomous trucking and our efforts.

Subscribed!

Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.