A five-year federal exemption lets Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI replace roadside warning triangles with beacons mounted in the cab of their driverless trucks.
The change addresses a specific operational problem: the existing rule requires a driver to place the triangles after stopping, but these trucks have no driver on board.
Under federal regulations, when a conventional truck encounters a problem, the driver must stop, activate the hazard lights, and place reflective triangles on the road within ten minutes. A driverless truck has no human to do this job, which made it difficult to use.
Aurora had sought a judicial exemption, but its initial request was denied. It then appealed to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. While they awaited the decision, the two companies were granted a temporary exemption.
Daniel Goff, Kodiak AI’s vice president of external affairs, said the change will help driverless freight transportation and make deliveries more efficient. Aurora’s Gerardo Interiano said the beacons can immediately alert other road users, without having to step out into a dangerous spot on the side of the road.
Other developments in transport
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