Truck automation: What may change in road inspections?

With truck automation becoming a reality, routine road inspections might be slightly different, and regulations are expected to change.

If you manage a fleet of vehicles, you know what can happen if one of your vehicles undergoes a roadside inspection. As truck automation is close to becoming a reality, regulations regarding road inspections are expected to change accordingly, with specific policies to guarantee vehicles' proper functioning and safety of those who travel in them.

And in the future, which does not seem so distant, what can happen if the vehicles are fully autonomous? How will enforcement officers interact with a truck with nobody behind the wheel to take instruction or answer questions? These are still just ideas with no defined regulation, but it is beginning to lead to some path among experts.

Road inspections for autonomous trucks might be slightly different soon and may vary depending on their autonomy levels. SAE International, previously known as the Society of Automotive Engineers, defines these levels and determines the intelligence level and automation capabilities of vehicles, ranking through 0 to 5, from fully manual to fully autonomous.

In automation with lower SAE levels (1 to 3), the vehicle can perform specific tasks. Still, the driver is required if the vehicle cannot complete the task or there is a system failure. The inspection of these vehicles may continue to occur with the usual mandatory stop and presentation of documents and records.

For SAE automation levels 4 and 5, where there is no driver interaction, and therefore, no one will be in the truck cabin, experts argue that there might be some enhanced pre-trip inspection. Then, a remote screening verification to certify that the system inspected the autonomous truck at the beginning of its trip.

The rules can also include a system diagnosis to document that the vehicle meets the standards and is in a condition to continue traveling and make it available when the truck passes a place where the authorities conduct vehicle inspections.

We believe this will revolutionize the future communications between road transport companies and authorities, bringing much more efficiency and data clearance.

Source:
Trucking Info