Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is urging Texas lawmakers to pass House Bill 4402, a law requiring trained human operators in autonomous vehicles (AVs). This push comes after Aurora, a tech company, started operating fully driverless trucks on Texas roads in May 2025. The Teamsters argue that this move raises serious concerns about public safety and threatens the jobs of professional drivers across the state.
Key Highlights
- Teamsters support House Bill 4402 to ensure human operators in AVs.
- Opposition to Senate Bill 39, which may shield AV companies from accident liability.
- Worries over job losses and safety risks tied to driverless trucks.
- Aurora’s fully driverless trucks spark urgent calls for action.
House Bill 4402, recently passed by the Texas House Committee on Transportation, mandates that all AVs, including trucks, have a trained human operator on board. The Teamsters see this as a vital step to protect both public safety and the livelihoods of Texas drivers. Brent Taylor, President of Teamsters Joint Council 80, said, “Requiring a human operator in a driverless truck isn’t unreasonable — it’s common sense.” He noted that many Texans depend on driving jobs to pay bills and support families, and automation could put those jobs at risk.
On the other hand, the Teamsters oppose Senate Bill 39, which would make it harder to hold AV companies accountable for accidents caused by their vehicles. Robert Mele, President of Teamsters Joint Council 58, warned, “Big Tech now wants to avoid accountability when their products malfunction and inevitably destroy people’s lives.” He stressed that driverless trucks struggle in bad weather and can’t match human drivers, making House Bill 4402 more urgent than ever.
Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
