Teamsters and a union coalition in Massachusetts are demanding regulation and accountability for autonomous vehicle (AV) operators that are attempting to expand into the state, demanding that lawmakers require human operators in all motor vehicles.
Specifically, Teamsters called on lawmakers to pass S.2393/H.3669, which would require human operators in all AVs, and called for the legislative body to kill S.2379/H.3634, which the Teamsters called a Waymo-sponsored bill that would hurt workers.
Waymo, which is a unit of Google parent company Alphabet Inc., says it currently operates its autonomous cars in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Austin, with plans to expand soon into Miami and Washington, D.C. And Waymo last month added Boston to that list, according to published reports.
The Teamsters’ lobbying move also comes as automaker Tesla last weekend debuted a fleet of “robotaxis” in Austin, Texas, sparking debate about safety, performance, and regulation. “Tesla’s robotaxi has ignited a wave of excitement and skepticism, with influencers buzzing about its potential to revolutionize ride-hailing by outpacing competitors like Waymo and Uber Technologies in cost and efficiency, potentially solidifying Tesla’s position,” Shreyasee Majumder, Social Media Analyst at GlobalData, said in a release.
Similar Teamsters-backed legislation is pending in Oregon and Texas. The California Assembly has already passed a bill this session requiring human operators in commercial vehicles. And related debates are raging in Nevada and in South Dakota.
