California’s Central Valley fuels the engine that is America’s agricultural sector. Without our farmers’ output, the industry would be driving ahead on half a tank in the U.S. Why? Because our region grows more than 250 different crops, and more importantly, we produce 25% of the nation’s food supply.

To reliably feed America, we need a resilient supply chain. Over the last few years, concerning cracks in California’s supply lines have become more pronounced. To make matters worse, our state maintains the highest unemployment rate in the country, and yet the trucking industry still faces a severe worker shortage. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for farmers to get their crops to market on time.

One way we can stem the tide: autonomous trucks. AV trucks can work alongside truck drivers to ensure our state reliably delivers Central Valley farmers’ produce to California businesses and consumers throughout the country.

Although supply challenges are acute in California, our state is not facing this troubling trend alone. Right now, the U.S. is short nearly 80,000 truck drivers. By 2031, the American Trucking Association expects that number to double.

At the same time, the Department of Transportation anticipates freight volume will grow by 50% over the next 25 years. To reverse this troubling lack of support, other states are welcoming autonomous truck deployments to help deliver products to market today.

Assembly Bill Would Ban AV Trucks

In California, this tool has not yet been added to our toolbox. Even more alarming, state lawmakers are considering a proactive ban on the technology via Assembly Bill 2286 before public officials at the DMV and Highway Patrol adopt relevant regulations. Not only is proposing a preemptive ban on cutting-edge technology antithetical to California’s innovative credentials but the effort was also deemed “unnecessary” by Gov. Gavin Newsom when he vetoed the same bill last year.

AV trucks offer an opportunity to strengthen our supply chain, fill growing gaps in the labor force, and reduce emissions along the way. Waiting longer for packaged goods can be frustrating. When fresh food is delivered late, it causes more than an inconvenience – it results in costly, often spoiled waste.

As residents of the Golden State have learned all too well over the last half-decade, strained supply chains have an outsized impact on us — as it did in 2020 and 2021 at California ports. Add fewer drivers into the equation, and it further exacerbates this fragile ecosystem, hurting small businesses, farmers, and ranchers particularly hard.

The Central Valley has embraced more environmentally friendly farming methods and next-generation technologies to bolster yields and improve sustainability.

An Innovative Next Step

Turning to autonomous trucks to transport farmers’ crops seems like a natural innovative next step. It could help modernize the logistical process and expand viable options for farmers to get their harvests where they need to go. After all, the Central Valley is home to an AV testing ground in Turlock that’s foundational to advancements made in AV technology.

Instead of providing a solution, AB 2286 denies farmers and ranchers access to additional transportation options that could address susceptibilities in our supply chain. Failing to resolve these underlying vulnerabilities could mean our home-grown grapes start to die on the vine.

Thankfully, this outcome is not inevitable. Opposing this backward slide and embracing AV trucking technology could put us on a pathway to bolster the supply chain, provide certainty for Central Valley farmers, and deliver for all Americans who rely on us to put food on their tables.

About the Author

Clint Olivier is the CEO of Central Valley Business Federation, a Clovis Unified School Board member, and a former Fresno city councilmember.