A landmark regulation is on the horizon, set to mandate automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in heavy-duty trucks by next year. As reported in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Spring 2024 Unified Regulatory Agenda, both the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are gearing up for the rule’s introduction in January, following a delayed release initially slated for April.
Previously announced, the regulation will require all newly manufactured vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds in weight to be outfitted with AEB and electronic stability control (ESC) systems.
Key Takeaways of the Proposal:
- Class 7 and 8 Vehicles: Heavier trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds must comply with AEB standards within three years after the rule is implemented.
- Class 3 to 6 Vehicles: Lighter trucks, weighing between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds, are required to meet both AEB and ESC criteria within four years.
- Small-Volume Manufacturers: Granted an extended deadline, they have five years to fully comply.
- Existing Vehicles: There is no mandate for retrofitting current heavy-duty vehicles with the new systems.
For the heavy-duty sector, “the rulemaking is expected to establish performance standards and motor carrier maintenance requirements for AEB systems on heavy trucks and accompanying test procedures for measuring the performance of the AEB systems in NHTSA compliance testing,” the DOT summarized.
Industry Reactions
During the public comment period, various stakeholders voiced their concerns. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and numerous truck drivers pointed out issues relating to the current AEB technologies, particularly false activations enacted by external factors like shadows from overpasses or guardrails on curved roads.
Meanwhile, the auto industry expressed reservations about the NHTSA’s AEB mandate for light-duty vehicles. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing car makers such as Ford and General Motors, described NHTSA’s final rule as “practically impossible” in a letter from June 24. According to the letter, “In several respects, the final rule establishes requirements that are not objective, not practicable or neither of these… Moreover, the final rule failed to address some significant comments raising serious concerns related to feasibility, practicability and unintended consequences.”
As of now, NHTSA has finalized its regulation requiring AEB systems to be standard on all passenger vehicles and light trucks by September 2029. While the regulation for heavy-duty vehicles is slated for announcement in January, it remains pending review by the White House Office of Management and Budget, a process known to extend over several months or even longer.
Source: Land Line
