For over a decade, the United States has faced an urgent crossroads on autonomous-vehicle (AV) policy — and we’re still stuck there. State by state, patchwork regulations have forced transportation innovators, manufacturers, and fleets through a confusing and frustrating maze of rules. The results are obvious: slower deployment, increased costs, and inconsistent safety expectations that we cannot afford.
The formation of United for Autonomy — a new coalition of 28 national organizations, including the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Truck & Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA), leading OEMs, and AV developers — may finally signal the turning point the industry has been waiting for. This coalition is calling for what has long been absent: a unified, federal approach to autonomous-vehicle policy, centered on safety, commercialization, and economic competitiveness.
This urgency is underscored by the fragmentation of policies that has impeded AV progress.
Fragmented Policy Has Held the U.S. Back
Today, an autonomous truck running from Arizona to Arkansas might pass through three or four completely different regulatory environments. Every state decides its own testing standards, reporting requirements, allowable operations, and, in some cases, outright bans. For companies building and deploying AV systems, this mosaic of rules is not just inefficient—it’s a roadblock.
A technology that depends on precision, consistency, and scale shouldn’t be governed like 50 different experiments. AVs need clear national standards, as aviation, maritime, and interstate trucking do. Without it, America risks losing its competitive edge to nations moving decisively to support AV deployment.
Recognizing this challenge, United for Autonomy aims to close this gap.
A Coalition Large Enough to Change the Conversation
The significance of this coalition is not just who joined — it’s who joined together. When trucking associations, manufacturers, AV developers, tech companies, disability groups, and safety organizations unite, policymakers take notice.
Their message is clear: the U.S. needs a national AV framework to ensure safety, spark innovation, and speed adoption.
This urgency isn’t about rushing AVs onto the road. It’s about immediately establishing rules to prevent the U.S. from falling behind.
Safety Should Be the Foundation — and Federal Policy Can Deliver It
Every major AV developer agrees on one thing: they need consistent expectations for safety and reporting.
Fragmented oversight leads to fragmented outcomes. A unified federal approach would:
- Establish clear testing and deployment safety standards.
- Require transparent reporting of AV performance and incidents.
- Build public trust through consistent safety messaging.
- Ensure AV operating domains are well-defined and responsibly managed.
Contrary to some misconceptions, AV technology does not erode safety — it can strengthen it dramatically. With more than 40,000 roadway deaths each year in the U.S., the status quo is what’s unsafe. A national AV policy could finally match technology advancement with regulatory alignment.
This Is an Economic Competitiveness Moment
Autonomous trucking is no longer a Silicon Valley experiment. It is a high-value, high-impact commercial tool that can:
- Stabilize long-haul capacity
- Reduce the driver shortage opportunity gap.
- Improve fuel efficiency through precision driving.
- Create a 24/7 freight network that strengthens supply chains.
But that can’t scale without predictable regulations. Investors don’t spend billions in uncertain markets. Carriers don’t adopt national AV programs if borders disrupt operations.
Federal leadership is crucial for unlocking industry investment, creating jobs, and expanding America’s share in the global mobility economy.
Workforce Transition Must Be Part of the Strategy
The conversation about AVs too often gets trapped in a binary: “AVs replace drivers.” That framing is not only misleading — it’s unproductive.
AV deployment creates new roles:
- Autonomous fleet technicians
- Remote operations specialists
- Sensor calibration experts
- Data analysts and system supervisors
- AV-to-infrastructure integration technicians
Federal policy must urgently strengthen this workforce transition through training incentives, grants, and certification pathways. The AV future is not driverless—it is job-evolving, and swift action is required.
Why United for Autonomy Matters Now
AV technology is no longer hypothetical. Trucks are already running supervised autonomous routes. Cars are operating in structured environments. States like Texas, Arizona, and Florida have leaned in. Others haven’t.
Without federal leadership, the U.S. will continue to operate as 50 separate laboratories rather than a coordinated national economy.
United for Autonomy is raising a critical point: innovation without guardrails is chaos — but guardrails without innovation are stagnation. The nation needs both.
For the first time, a broad, bipartisan, multi-industry coalition provides Washington a timely and urgent roadmap.
The Path Forward
Policymakers should act now by adopting the coalition’s recommendations and initiating the process of building a federal framework. This framework should include:
- National safety and performance standards
- A unified AV testing and reporting model
- Federal certification of autonomous commercial vehicles
- Infrastructure modernization aligned with AV needs.
- Workforce transition and training programs
The U.S. does not have to choose between safety and innovation. With decisive federal action, we can achieve both and maintain America’s global leadership in transportation technology.
United for Autonomy shows the industry’s readiness for change. Now, Washington must act immediately.