
The Dangers of Testing Automated Trucks on Public Highways
In May 2025, driverless semi trucks hit the road in North Texas. Proponents of these driverless trucks (and other fully automated commercial vehicles) are pushing the idea that these will ultimately reduce or even eliminate the risk of serious motor vehicle crashes. Despite being an idea everyone can support, we are still a long way from achieving such a feat. Several tech companies have already received approval to test automated trucks on public highways. Here’s why that could prove to be a bad idea. What Is an Automated Semi Truck? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) groups vehicle automation tools into six categories, ranging from Level 0 to Level 5. Level 0 mechanisms provide momentary driver assistance, such as lane departure warnings. By Level 4, the onboard system is fully responsible for driving tasks, meaning a human driver is usually no longer needed. Level 5 automation is the goal that driverless vehicle technology companies strive for. It is the










