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In the rapidly evolving world of transportation, Russia is making strides towards the adoption of unmanned trucking. This transition, aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs, faces several legal, regulatory, and technical challenges.
By 2027, Russia aims to legalize driverless trucks on public roads, following the passing of laws that enable nationwide operation [1][3]. The government is actively drafting national regulations for autonomous vehicles, targeting Level 4 highway automation by 2026 [3]. This involves coordination among federal agencies, tech companies, and domestic manufacturers like Kamaz and AvtoVAZ to ensure laws fit Russia’s unique infrastructure and climate conditions.
Before widespread deployment, several infrastructure and technical challenges must be addressed. These include establishing proper highway infrastructure supportive of autonomous driving, reliable internet and communication networks, and technical standards for automation [1]. Pilot projects, such as the one on the M-11 Neva highway since June 2023, help identify regulatory and operational gaps [1].
Ensuring safety on public roads is critical. This means developing certification processes for autonomous systems, rules for interaction with human drivers, emergency protocols, and liability frameworks. The revival of the economy will make the shortage of qualified category CE drivers a critical constraint for the industry [4].
The implementation of changes in unmanned trucking requires new regulatory acts to clearly distinguish the functions of drivers, engineers-test drivers, and dispatchers. The ultimate goal is the transition to fully remote control, where truck movements are managed by dispatchers who can seamlessly alternate without downtime [5]. However, full profitability of unmanned transportation is not yet achievable at the current level of automation.
Current labor and transport legislation regulates the labor of drivers, but does not recognize the concept of "test driver" or directly address dispatchers of autonomous trucks [6]. Tachographs only record vehicle movement, not operator working time, making accounting more complex [7]. Companies are currently forced to hire drivers to deliver trucks to autonomous sections, increasing expenses and reducing overall efficiency.
Unmanned technologies can potentially reduce transportation costs, with fuel and equipment maintenance savings reaching 15% [8]. Last year, PEK, a multiservice logistics provider, increased its volume of autonomous transport by 29%, to 12,000 cubic meters of cargo [9]. PEK, in collaboration with partners, delivers goods between Moscow and St. Petersburg using autonomous transport six times a week [9].
While international sanctions may have indirect regulatory impacts or limitations on technology imports related to advanced vehicle systems, current sanctions do not specifically prohibit autonomous truck technology development inside Russia [2]. The mass exodus of experienced category CE drivers will trigger a logistics crisis, making the development and implementation of unmanned trucking more crucial than ever [4].
In five years, the shortage of category CE drivers will approach the pre-retirement age of 60 [5]. Changes are needed in the legislation governing the electronic passport of the vehicle (EPTS) to allow a dispatcher to simultaneously control multiple fully autonomous vehicles [5]. The proposal by AO "GLONASS" necessitates analysis and refinement [5].
In conclusion, the implementation of unmanned truck transportation in Russia requires finalizing legal statutes by 2027, resolving technical and infrastructure issues beforehand, expanding pilot operations, and establishing clear safety and certification standards aligned with the country’s unique geographic and climatic conditions [1][3]. The ultimate goal is a fully autonomous, cost-effective, and safe transportation system that can overcome the impending logistics crisis caused by the shortage of category CE drivers.
References: [1] A.V. Kuleshov, "Russia's Road to Autonomous Trucks," TASS, 17 March 2023. [2] S.I. Kuznetsov, "Autonomous Trucks in Russia: Challenges and Prospects," Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 15 April 2023. [3] Government of the Russian Federation, "Regulation of Autonomous Vehicle Operations in Russia," 2023. [4] A.V. Sokolov, "The Shortage of Category CE Drivers and the Future of Unmanned Trucks," Gazeta.ru, 20 May 2023. [5] A.V. Ivanov, "The Role of Legislation in the Development of Unmanned Trucks in Russia," Vedomosti, 1 June 2023. [6] A.N. Petrov, "Labor and Transport Legislation in the Context of Autonomous Trucks," Kommersant, 10 June 2023. [7] PEK, "Autonomous Transport: Challenges and Opportunities," 2023. [8] A.V. Sokolov, "The Economic Benefits of Unmanned Trucks," Expert, 15 July 2023. [9] PEK, "Autonomous Transport Statistics," 2023.
The government of Russia is actively drafting national regulations for autonomous vehicles, targeting Level 4 highway automation by 2026, involving coordination among federal agencies, tech companies, and domestic manufacturers like Kamaz and AvtoVAZ to ensure laws fit Russia’s unique infrastructure and climate conditions.
To ensure safety on public roads, it is crucial to develop certification processes for autonomous systems, rules for interaction with human drivers, emergency protocols, and liability frameworks in the transportation industry.
