Can you imagine traveling on a highway, look over and see a driver-less semi rolling along beside you. It won’t be an imagination for too long but autonomous trucking, driverless commercial trucking is coming to Oklahoma. These self driving semis could start being seen on Oklahoma highways as soon as next month, along pre-mapped routes; then the within the next year Oklahoma drivers could be sharing the highway with no driver behind the wheel of those big trucks. The self-driven semis are referred to as autonomous trucks.
In 2019 Oklahoma Legislature established framework allowing autonomous vehicles to travel on Oklahoma highways, then in 2022 an additional legislation towards fully autonomous vehicles.
The technology is already being used in several states, including Texas.
Oklahoma law allows these driver-less trucks to operate on Oklahoma highways if the automated driving system can safely respond to failures, comply with traffic laws and meet federal safety standards.
Companies that own these trucks must submit an interaction plan to the ODPS (Oklahoma Dept. Of Public Safety) stating how law enforcement can make contact with fleet personnel, and safely remove, secure or tow the autonomous truck. The OHP has had training session to teachers troopers how to safely interact with these driver-less vehicles while they are operating on Oklahoma highways.