The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is calling on Texas legislators to prioritize public safety and job security by passing House Bill 4402—a measure that would require a trained human operator to be present in all autonomous vehicles (AVs), including self-driving trucks. The push for the bill has intensified following the launch of fully driverless truck operations by tech company Aurora on Texas highways in May 2025.
Supporters of HB 4402 argue that requiring human oversight is a necessary step to ensure public safety as well as to protect thousands of transportation jobs across the state. Brent Taylor, President of Teamsters Joint Council 80, emphasized the need for common-sense regulation in a rapidly advancing industry. “Requiring a human operator in a driverless truck isn’t unreasonable — it’s common sense,” said Taylor. “Texans depend on these driving jobs to support their families. Removing people from the cab doesn’t just create safety risks—it also threatens the economic stability of countless households.”
House Bill 4402 has already cleared the Texas House Committee on Transportation and now awaits further legislative action. If passed, it would mark a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for autonomous vehicles in Texas, which has so far remained relatively permissive compared to other states.
At the same time, the Teamsters are voicing strong opposition to Senate Bill 39, a proposal that they argue would make it more difficult to hold AV companies accountable in the event of accidents or malfunctions. Robert Mele, President of Teamsters Joint Council 58, voiced concerns about the bill’s implications. “Big Tech now wants to avoid accountability when their products malfunction and inevitably destroy people’s lives,” Mele stated. “Driverless trucks can’t adapt to unexpected conditions like human drivers can, especially in poor weather or chaotic traffic situations.”
The debate highlights a growing divide between technology companies seeking to expand driverless operations and labor unions pushing to ensure that technological progress doesn’t come at the cost of worker safety and job security. For the Teamsters, House Bill 4402 represents more than just legislation—it’s a safeguard for human lives and livelihoods in the face of an automated future.
As the conversation around AVs heats up, all eyes will be on Texas lawmakers to decide whether safety and accountability take precedence over unchecked automation.
