{"id":3607,"date":"2026-02-05T12:46:25","modified":"2026-02-05T13:04:47","slug":"at-hearing-on-autonomous-vehicles-fetterman-declares-respect-the-parking-chair","link":"https:\/\/www.fetterman.senate.gov\/at-hearing-on-autonomous-vehicles-fetterman-declares-respect-the-parking-chair\/","title":{"rendered":"At Hearing on Autonomous Vehicles, Fetterman Declares \u201cRespect the Parking Chair!\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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(<\/i>Watch Senator Fetterman\u2019s full remarks here<\/i><\/a>)<\/i><\/div>\n
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WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/strong> \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) questioned a panel of industry leaders on autonomous vehicles (AVs), with a particular focus on how they impact Pennsylvania\u2019s workers and how AV companies plan to keep roads and highways safe.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cBack in 1994, I worked with UPS drivers there and I was proud to work with the Teamsters back then. I also realized how difficult their way of life is but I also think that is something necessary we need to protect. I am not going to bash AV or any of these things nor am I a luddite\u2026I see it is a necessary part of the future moving forward,<\/strong>\u201d said Senator Fetterman in his opening remarks.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cI also want to acknowledge that Pittsburgh played a significant part of the history of developing AV\u2026For me, I am going to be the voice for the 90,000 drivers here and I am going to be the Teamsters voice here\u2026Those union members are very critical in this economy,<\/strong>\u201d continued the senator.<\/p>\n\n

As a former truck driver for UPS, Fetterman worked alongside the Teamsters and experienced firsthand the crucial role truckers have in our economy. As Pennsylvania\u2019s senior senator, he represents a state that has the fifth most truck drivers in the nation.<\/p>\n\n

Last year, Senator Fetterman stood with<\/a> the Teamsters after the CEO of a self-driving truck company rejected the union\u2019s demand for human operators to supervise their driverless vehicles. Fetterman remains concerned by efforts to replace workers with autonomous vehicles and asked Mr. Jeff Farrah, CEO of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, what he and his organization plan to do to address the concerns of workers, like the 90,000 truckers in Pennsylvania, who are afraid of losing their jobs to this technology. Mr. Farrah responded, \u201cTruck drivers are an indispensable, critical aspect of our supply chain. They are the backbone of the American economy\u2026The goal of the industry here is to coexist with autonomous trucks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Senator Fetterman then brought up Waymo\u2019s recent decision to bring its robotaxi service to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and directed his line of questioning to Waymo\u2019s Chief Safety Officer, Dr. Mauricio Pe\u00f1a. \u201cHow does your technology account for these kinds of different drivers and the cultures and different communities across my state and the country?<\/strong>\u201d asked Fetterman, referencing the differences in terrain and street design across neighborhoods, and the driving culture and norms people are accustomed to in their communities. Senator Fetterman made a point to ask if Waymo\u2019s autonomous cars would respect the parking chair, particularly after the recent snowstorms Pennsylvanians experienced.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cI would strongly encourage Waymo to incorporate that, to respect the parking chair. When you see examples of people that don\u2019t, it doesn\u2019t really end very well for folks,<\/strong>\u201d quipped Senator Fetterman.<\/p>\n\n

Watch the full exchange above and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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