TechCrunch Industry News California’s ban on self-driving trucks could soon be over; also, Amazon may drop USPS and build a competing service
Dec 4, 2025
California is poised to lift its ban on self-driving trucks, allowing them to test on public highways. New rules will enable police to ticket driverless vehicles, addressing safety concerns. Meanwhile, Amazon might sever ties with USPS to establish its own delivery service, leveraging its extensive shipping infrastructure, including drones and autonomous vans. The enthusiasm for autonomous vehicle testing contrasts with opposition from labor groups advocating for human oversight in freight transport.
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California Eyes Driverless Truck Testing
- California is moving to allow testing and deployment of self-driving heavy trucks on public highways under revised DMV rules.
- The proposal includes phased permitting, heavy testing-mile requirements, and expanded reporting for safety and first-responder coordination.
New Rules Clarify Law Enforcement Powers
- The revised rules also address law enforcement interaction by appearing to give police power to issue tickets to driverless vehicles.
- The change responds to issues that arose as Waymo expanded commercial robotaxi operations.
Industry Praise From Autonomous Truckmakers
- Companies like Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI praised the revisions as progress toward coast-to-coast autonomous freight operations.
- Kodiak AI called the draft regulations a critical step toward bringing autonomous trucks to California freeways next year.