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FMCSA Grants Five-Year Exemption for Autonomous Truck Warning Beacons

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration approved a five-year exemption Wednesday allowing Level 4 autonomous truck operators to deploy cab-mounted amber warning beacons instead of reflective triangles when stopped on roadways.

The exemption, effective through 2031, covers Aurora Operations and other Level 4 carriers that notify FMCSA. It consolidates four three-month waivers Aurora has operated under since October 2025. Kodiak AI, Waabi and Stack AV have also adopted the framework.

Beacons must meet SAE J595 Class 1 photometric standards, mount at least 100 inches above ground and include redundant power systems. They must activate within five minutes of a stop—faster than the 10-minute requirement for manual triangle placement—and continue flashing alongside hazard lights until the truck moves again or is recovered.

Operators cannot haul hazardous materials or passengers, and trucks must remain within validated operational design domains. Industry officials said the exemption provides regulatory certainty needed for capital investment and business expansion.