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Senate Transportation committee advances bill to expand Walmart autonomous delivery program after company cites zero accidents in pilot
Summary
House Bill 1562, which would remove a three-vehicle pilot cap and continue state oversight of an autonomous delivery program, was approved by the Senate Transportation committee in a voice vote after Walmart presented company-reported pilot data showing 4,376 trips, more than 82,000 miles and zero accidents.
The Senate Transportation committee on Thursday voted to advance House Bill 1562, a measure to remove a three-vehicle limit on an autonomous delivery-truck pilot and allow the state transportation agency to continue oversight as the program expands.
Sen. Eads, who presented the bill to the committee, said the change would allow the pilot — originally limited to three vehicles in northwest Arkansas — to grow statewide and attract additional businesses to test autonomous delivery operations in Arkansas.
Michael Lindsey, director of public affairs and government relations for Walmart, told the committee the company’s two-year pilot has driven more than 82,000 miles across 4,376 trips with no reported accidents and that the…
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