U.S. Congress advances landmark legislation on autonomous trucking
By Luke Willetts - 11th September 2025
U.S. Congress
USA – The U.S. Congress is moving forward with legislation to create a federal framework for autonomous trucking, a step that could transform long-haul freight in the coming decade. The AMERICA DRIVES Act, introduced in the House, and the Autonomous Vehicle Advancement Act in the Senate, both seek to allow Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous trucks to operate across state lines without a human driver on board.
Under current law, autonomous trucking in the U.S. is regulated on a state-by-state basis. Some states, such as Texas and Arizona, permit driverless testing and deployment, which we have seen with Aurora in Texas. Others maintain stricter requirements for safety operators. This patchwork has limited scalability for operators and manufacturers. The proposed federal legislation would pre-empt state restrictions, giving the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) authority to set unified national standards by 2027.
