The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will hold a public listening session to collect comments and information on autonomous truck technology, or what it calls "highly automated commercial vehicles," at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Workshop in Atlanta on April 24.

FCMSA will webcast the entire session to allow for increased viewing and participation for those unable to attend in person.

The listening session will occur amid speculation the DOT is preparing to issue preliminary guidelines for the operation of autonomous vehicles, perhaps as early as this year.

The regulatory provisions FCMSA is soliciting comments and feedback on include title 49 CFR to HACVS: part 383 (Commercial Driver’s Licenses): part 391 (Qualification of Drivers); sections 392.80 and 392.82 (use of electronic devices); part 395 (Hours of Service of Drivers); and part 396 (Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance). The agency is also requesting comments on how enforcement officials could identify commercial motor vehicles capable of various levels of automated operation, and the types of HACV equipment that can be effectively inspected at roadside.

The listening session is scheduled to being at 9:30 a.m. EST and run until noon. More information can be found here.