Sacramento – The California Department of Motor Vehicles released proposed regulations Friday that establish a path for companies to test or deploy light-duty autonomous motor trucks (delivery vehicles) on the state’s public roads.

The release of these regulations marked the start of a 45-day public comment period which ends May 27.

Under the proposed regulations, companies can test autonomous delivery vehicles weighing less than 10,001 pounds with an approved permit from the DMV – provided they do not charge a delivery fee. Companies must apply for a deployment (public use) permit to make their autonomous technology commercially available.

The DMV’s regulations continue to exclude the testing or deployment of autonomous vehicles weighing more than 10,001 pounds.

Written comments may be submitted to LADRegulations@dmv.ca.gov during the 45-day period. The proposed regulations are available on the DMV Autonomous Vehicles webpage and under the “News and Updates” section on the DMV homepage.

Following the comment period, the DMV will hold a public hearing at its Sacramento headquarters on May 30 at 10 a.m. to gather input on the regulations. The DMV previously held a public workshop on October 19, 2018, to gather and discuss input on the development of the regulations. The approach is consistent with how the DMV developed past AV regulations packages, and the department is targeting to complete this rulemaking within the year.

Currently, 62 companies have valid permits to test autonomous vehicles with a safety driver on California public roadways. One company, Waymo, has a permit for driverless testing.