Teamsters’ Autonomous Vehicles Fight Spreads Across Statehouses

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ squabble with the tech industry is likely to continue in statehouses across the country after Washington state fight over legalizing fully autonomous commercial vehicles ended in a draw.

In the Evergreen State, labor groups backed a bill (SB 5872) that would require human drivers in all vehicles in case of emergencies, arguing that driverless cars are a public safety danger. The tech industry, meanwhile, favored a rival proposal (SB 5594) to create a regulatory system for self-driving vehicles, contending such technology could save lives and promote better fuel efficiency.

Neither will likely advance this year after failing to pass out of committees ahead of a February deadline to move bills out of their chamber of origin. “It’s pretty much dead,” said state Sen. Matt Boehnke (R) of his stalled bill favored by the tech industry.

The clash in Olympia will likely foreshadow legislative action in other states this year.

Autonomous vehicles are a top concern for unions amid worries about sweeping job losses caused by artificial intelligence. The Teamsters have responded by pushing legislation in a number of states to keep the technology from replacing human drivers, many of whom are their 1.3 million members.

“The issues we are advocating for in Olympia will determine the future of the labor movement in our state and nationwide,” said Rick Hicks, Teamster’s western region vice president, on Feb. 13.

Testing Rules Remain

The Washington debate centered on a pilot program that began in 2017. The Department of Motor Vehicles allowed road testing for automated vehicles that don’t have a human available to take over in emergencies.

A state report released in 2023 outlined a path for legalizing fully autonomous vehicles.

Companies like Alphabet Inc. subsidiary Waymo as well as industry groups like the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association argue that restrictions would raise research costs and ignore the progress made by the emerging technology.

The bill to ban driverless autonomous vehicles from operating commercially would “hinder innovation, and hurt Washington’s economy,” said Ashley Sutton, TechNet’s executive director for Washington and the Northwest in a statement. “That is why no state has enacted this legislation.”

Beyond California

Twenty-four states have enacted legislation creating regulations for fully autonomous vehicles to drive on their roadways, according to the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association.

The Teamsters countered such efforts in 2023 by pushing California lawmakers to approve legislation to require human drivers on hand in all vehicles. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed that measure in September.

Labor groups are pushing the bill again in the Golden State this year as well as similar measures in New York (SB 7758) and Indiana (SB 57).

Union officials have questioned the safety of autonomous vehicles, specifically pointing to a 2023 traffic crash in San Francisco that led to California regulators suspending the operating license of General Motors’ Cruise robotaxi.

Some state Republicans have also expressed concern about whether autonomous vehicles without drivers are safe.

The threat to drivers’ livelihood also must be considered, said Michael Kuntz, a Teamsters member who testified at a Jan. 30 hearing on the Indiana legislation.

“Job loss due to automation wouldn’t just be bad for professional drivers,” said Kuntz. “It would have a ripple effect throughout the economy, negatively affecting the finances of both private and public sector entities in Indiana.”