The BUILD America 250 Act would create the first federal framework for autonomous commercial trucks by directing the Department of Transportation to set national safety standards. The House transportation committee approved the bill 62–2 on May 22; it would require manufacturers to certify safety compliance and mandate that remote operators be based in the United States. The measure also authorizes $27.5 million in 2027 for workforce training to help drivers transition to automated systems. Passage would start a federal rulemaking process but would not immediately permit interstate driverless operations.
Congress Advances Federal Rules for Self-Driving Trucks: BUILD America 250 Moves Safety, US-Based Remote Operators and Training Forward
A worker cleans the sensor attached to an Aurora driverless truck.Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The House is moving toward the nation's first federal framework for autonomous commercial trucks with the BUILD America 250 Act, a five-year transportation package that would direct the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop safety standards for self-driving big rigs.
What The Bill Would Do
Approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on May 22 by a 62–2 vote, the bill would require manufacturers to certify that autonomous trucks meet federal safety standards before operating across state lines. Rather than immediately allowing interstate driverless service, the legislation establishes a federal process for writing and enforcing those standards.
US-Based Remote Operators
The bill includes a high-profile provision requiring that all remote assistants, driverless operations dispatchers, and remote drivers be physically located within the United States or its territories. That requirement responds to concerns raised by lawmakers about companies that use remote-assistance teams overseas; during a February Senate hearing Sen. Ed Markey criticized Waymo for relying on personnel in countries including the Philippines.
Sen. Ed Markey: "Completely unacceptable."
Workforce Support And Training
To help human drivers adapt to automation, the bill would authorize $27.5 million for fiscal year 2027 to create a workforce development grant program. Eligible projects would fund training for commercial driver's license (CDL) holders to operate and maintain trucks with automated driving systems and support apprenticeships or internships that prepare technicians for automated-vehicle maintenance.
Industry Reaction And Context
Autonomous-trucking executives welcomed the move as progress toward a predictable national policy that could help scale the industry. "The inclusion of a federal autonomous trucking framework in the BUILD America 250 Act is a definitive signal that the moment for autonomous trucking has arrived," said Lior Ron, chief operating officer of Waabi, in a statement to the press.
Lior Ron, Waabi: "Existing federal guidance is antiquated and has slowed innovation; a national framework is necessary for safe, scalable deployment."
The bill comes as autonomous vehicle firms shift from demonstrations to commercial operations. For example, Aurora announced a new supervised 200-mile route between Dallas and Oklahoma City that uses autonomous driving with human supervision for parts of the trip.
Next Steps
Having cleared committee, the BUILD America 250 Act must still pass the full House and the Senate and reach the President's desk before becoming law. If enacted, the DOT would begin the work of crafting standards and compliance mechanisms that could shape how—and how quickly—autonomous trucks operate across the country.
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