Trucking Laws · New Mexico · October 27, 2026

Truckers Could Share New Mexico Highways With Driverless Test Trucks as Advocates Push Lawmakers for Stricter Rules

By Big Rig Daily Staff

New Mexico lets companies test driverless trucks on public roads with just five days' notice to the state Department of Transportation, as long as they follow state traffic laws, Source NM reported Monday, Oct. 26. Truckers who run New Mexico's interstates could one day share the road with more driverless trucks, and some state lawmakers say the rules for testing them are too thin.

Public safety advocates brought the issue to the legislature's interim Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee on Friday, Oct. 23.

What New Mexico does not require for autonomous trucks

According to the advocates' presentation, as reported by Source NM, New Mexico law does not require:

• A state permit.
• Safety data.
• Proof that the system passed preliminary safety testing.

Six states require permits and state authorization for this kind of testing: Hawaii, California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Arkansas, Source NM reported.

A Teamsters agent's experience

Daniel Cook, a Teamsters Local 492 business agent in Albuquerque who started driving commercial vehicles in Alaska at 19, told the subcommittee about an automated system he drove. He said it would "read a speed limit sign and it would slam on the brakes."

"These systems do affect the way we drive currently and they are not ready to go at this point," Cook said, according to Source NM.

What lawmakers said

Rep. Joy Garratt, D-Albuquerque, said, "I didn't realize our laws are so lacking." She called permit requirements "common sense," Source NM reported.

Rep. Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, said automated vehicles can help fill gaps left by commercial trucking shortages and the state should not fully restrict them, but he said something needs to be done. "There is a need over time for this, but the idea of us being the guinea pigs is not something I'm looking forward to," Montoya said. "There is a real risk here. We need to put some guardrails."

CDLLife also reported on the hearing.

How many automated vehicle crashes were reported?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 1,199 automated vehicle crashes nationwide in the past year, and 16 of the reported crashes were in New Mexico, according to Source NM.

What happens next

The hearing was a discussion before an interim committee. Source NM's report did not describe a specific bill or a vote. Any change to the testing rules would have to go through the legislature.

Driverless trucks are already being tested in other states. Big Rig Daily recently covered a driverless truck operation on I-45 in Texas and Einride's autonomous truck testing with NVIDIA's reasoning AI. For other state-by-state rules, see the truck laws by state guide. Truck stops and scales in the state are on the New Mexico truck stop and weigh station map.

Quick facts

• New Mexico rule: Five days' notice to NMDOT and follow state traffic laws.
• Not required, per advocates: A permit, safety data or proof of preliminary safety testing.
• States with permit rules: Hawaii, California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Arkansas.
• Hearing: Interim Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee, Oct. 23.

A question for readers

Should driverless truck companies have to get a state permit before they test on the same highways truckers drive every day?

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