The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 118-85 on October 21 to adopt House Resolution 563, directing a comprehensive study of the potential impacts of autonomous vehicles on public safety, employment, and transportation infrastructure.

Sponsored by Rep. Ben Waxman (D-Philadelphia), HR 563 directs the Joint State Government Commission to examine the benefits, risks, and broader implications of driverless vehicle technology, including its potential effects on Pennsylvania's freight transportation industry.

The resolution comes as autonomous vehicle technology continues to advance, with driverless passenger vehicles already operating in some U.S. cities and autonomous commercial trucks being tested and deployed in certain markets.

What Will the Study Examine?

HR 563 directs the Joint State Government Commission to evaluate several issues related to autonomous vehicles and personal delivery devices, including:

• Public safety: Potential safety benefits and risks associated with autonomous vehicles, including their interactions with other motorists, pedestrians, and transportation infrastructure.
• Workforce impacts: Potential displacement of workers in the trucking, taxi, ride-sharing, food delivery, and other transportation industries.
• Infrastructure requirements: Potential costs associated with highway improvements, electrical grid upgrades, transportation networks, and other infrastructure needed to accommodate autonomous vehicles.
• Public safety operations: Implications for autonomous vehicles operating near schools, hospitals, emergency response facilities, airports, and other sensitive locations.
• Accessibility: Potential benefits and challenges for underserved communities, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.

The resolution also directs the Commission to consult with commercial driver's license (CDL) holders working in the transportation industry and representatives of labor organizations.

The Commission must submit its findings to the General Assembly within one year of the resolution's adoption, with the report distributed to legislative committees overseeing transportation, labor, and technology.

Implications for Pennsylvania's Trucking Industry

Autonomous truck technology has the potential to significantly influence the future of freight transportation, making the study particularly relevant to Pennsylvania's trucking industry.

With more than 72,000 trucking companies and 362,200 trucking jobs in Pennsylvania, the industry's economic and workforce implications are substantial.

Autonomous technology offers opportunities to improve highway safety, increase operational efficiency, and address certain workforce challenges. At the same time, its development raises important questions about safety performance, infrastructure readiness, regulatory consistency, liability, and the changing role of professional drivers.

For motor carriers, the successful integration of autonomous technology will depend on more than the capabilities of the vehicles themselves. Practical considerations such as operating conditions, interactions with conventional vehicles, emergency response procedures, and the ability to operate safely across state lines will also be critical.

Although HR 563 specifically calls for input from CDL drivers and labor organizations, it does not expressly require consultation with motor carriers, fleet operators, or trucking industry associations. Their operational experience and understanding of freight transportation will be important to developing a comprehensive assessment of the technology's potential impacts.

What Happens Next?

HR 563 is a study resolution, not legislation establishing new restrictions or requirements for autonomous vehicles. Its adoption does not change existing laws governing autonomous vehicle operations in Pennsylvania.

Instead, the findings could help inform future legislative discussions about autonomous vehicle safety, workforce development, infrastructure investments, and regulatory oversight.

PMTA will monitor the Commission's work and opportunities for trucking industry participation as Pennsylvania considers the future of autonomous transportation.

Read the full text of House Resolution 563: HR 563, Printer's No. 3969