Aurora Fights FMCSA Ruling on Hazard Warnings

(aogreatkim via Getty Images)

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Aurora Innovation Inc., a maker of self-driving technology for trucks, challenged a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration decision to deny the company an alternative means to comply with safety rules that typically require a human being.

Last month, FMCSA determined that self-driving trucks weren’t exempt from a long-standing rule requiring emergency signaling devices to be placed on the road when a vehicle is forced to make an unplanned stop.

In a filing Jan. 10 with the federal appeals court in Washington, Aurora said the decision was made “arbitrarily and capriciously” and asked the court to review it.

When drivers pull over to the side of a highway or shoulder “for a reason other than a necessary traffic stop,” they are required to place warning devices such as reflective triangles or flares behind and in front of the vehicle to alert other drivers.

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Aurora has proposed the use of beacons mounted on the truck as an alternative warning system. (Aurora) 

Because autonomous trucks would have no drivers to put out triangles, the industry has to find a way around that requirement.

Representatives for FMCSA and U.S. Transportation Department didn’t immediately comment.

In January 2023, Aurora applied for an exemption on behalf of the class of motor carriers operating autonomous commercial trucks, proposing the use of beacons mounted on the truck cab as an alternative warning system, according to the filing.

“Emergency and construction vehicles use high-visibility flashing lights to alert other drivers when stopped on the roadside,” Ossa Fisher, Aurora’s president, said in a post on the company’s website. “After prototypes, data-backed research, and engagement with safety experts, Aurora proposed a similar solution for trucking. Why are we denying this safety tool for America’s truckers?”

Navigating the fragmented regulatory landscape for self-driving trucks is a challenge for companies seeking to scale up their technology.

Aurora says the decision doesn’t prevent the company from deploying its driverless trucks in April. In October the company said it would push its launch to 2025, rather than the end of 2024. The company this week announced a partnership with Nvidia and Continental to deploy driverless trucks at scale.

Aurora is backed by investors including Uber Technologies Inc., which has a roughly 24% stake, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Amazon.com Inc. and Toyota Motor Corp. are also investors.