Veteran Trucking Safety Attorney Amy Witherite Warns: Autonomous 18-Wheelers Still Unsafe, Now Some Investors Agree

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Attorney and traffic safety expert Amy Witherite, who has spent more than 30 years handling trucking safety cases, was among the first to warn that autonomous 18-wheelers pose unacceptable risks on U.S. highways. Now, she is being joined by prominent short sellers, industry insiders, and even OEM partners who say the technology is potentially unsafe and uneconomical.

“These are 80,000-pound machines traveling at highway speeds next to families in passenger cars,” Witherite said. “Until there are strict federal safety standards, this rollout is reckless. The delay proves what many of us feared—autonomous trucks are not ready, and the public is being used as the test track.”

Others Share Witherite’s Concerns

• Kerrisdale Capital: Aurora Innovation’s model is a “fantasy,” predicting “a decade of continuous dilution before arriving at a dead end.”
• Bleecker Street Research: Even Aurora’s partners doubt its timeline—Volvo says mass production won’t happen until 2030. The firm called Aurora’s Dallas-to-Houston “driver-out” route a PR stunt, noting trucks still require safety drivers.
• Immediately following Aurora's initial driverless operations (starting May 1, 2025), PACCAR requested a human “observer” be placed in the driver’s seat. Aurora complied, relocating the observer from the back seat to the front, while maintaining that the Aurora Driver system remained fully responsible for all driving tasks.
• Volvo which also plans to make autonomous trucks is also cautious saying, "We are making significant progress towards driverless technology and will remove the safety driver only when we have thoroughly evaluated all factors and deem it appropriate," Volvo spokesperson Ceren Wende told Axios.

Concerns About Economics

• Driver wages equal 35–40% of costs, yet drivers still required for first/last mile.
• Autonomous rigs are projected to cost 50% more than traditional trucks.

“Washington needs to step up now with strict testing requirements and enforceable safety standards. Until then, putting driverless 18-wheelers on public highways is gambling with lives.”

Amy Witherite is the founding attorney of Witherite Law Group and a nationally recognized traffic safety advocate. She has represented hundreds of families affected by trucking collisions. Call 1 800 Truck Wreck or visit 1800TruckWreck.com to learn more.