The Teamsters union is urging Texas lawmakers to pass House Bill 4402, a proposed law that mandates trained human operators in autonomous vehicles. This call follows the bill’s approval by the Texas House Committee on Transportation.
The appeal for regulation arises as Aurora, a tech company, starts deploying fully driverless trucks on Texas roads. Aurora plans to eliminate safety drivers from its vehicles this month, raising concerns about safety and accountability.
Brent Taylor, President of Teamsters Joint Council 80 in Dallas and Southern Region International Vice President, stated: “Requiring a human operator in a driverless truck isn’t unreasonable — it’s common sense.” He emphasized the potential job losses for Texans who rely on driving for their livelihood, urging protection through legislation.
Additionally, the Teamsters are opposing Senate Bill 39. This bill could make it more difficult to hold AV companies liable for civil damages if they are found at fault in accidents. Robert Mele, President of Teamsters Joint Council 58 in Houston, criticized the capabilities of current driverless trucks: “The driverless trucks on the road right now cannot drive in most inclement weather and will never match having a human behind the wheel.”
Mele also expressed concern over attempts by technology firms to avoid accountability when malfunctions occur. He stressed the urgency of passing HB 4402 and encouraged swift legislative action.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million workers across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. More information can be found at Teamster.org or via social media channels X @Teamsters and Facebook.com/teamsters.
