California’s long wait for autonomous trucks may soon end
California’s long-running holdout on autonomous trucking could be moving toward a change, with testing permits potentially available by late 2026. The eventual allowance of autonomous vehicle (AV) trucks in the state is expected to expand the national autonomous trucking network by opening up more direct long-haul routing through a key freight market.
For drivers and fleets, California matters because it sits at the center of major freight lanes and connects ports, inland distribution centers, and interstate corridors that feed much of the country. A workable AV-truck testing pathway in the state would make it easier for autonomous trucking companies to link routes across state lines rather than stopping at California’s border.
Even with that timeline on the table, the process is not immediate. Adams noted it could take several more months before the rule is published. After publication, there is additional waiting time before a rule takes effect.
That means the window for autonomous trucking companies to begin operating under a new California framework may still stretch beyond the point when permits first become possible, depending on how long the remaining steps take.
- What happened: A path toward allowing AV truck activity in California is developing, with a possible testing permit timeline of late 2026.
- Why it matters: California’s inclusion would help connect and expand long-haul autonomous truck routes nationwide.
- What to watch: Rule publication and the required waiting period before the rule takes effect.