AI is coming for truck drivers. A new bill is trying to brace US workers for impact.

The House transportation committee approved a bill that would introduce a federal framework for autonomous commercial trucks.

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AI is coming for one of the most important industries in the US: truck drivers.A new bill recently introduced in the House would establish rules for workers in the new industry, creating the first federal framework for autonomous commercial trucks, including provisions on remote workers and workforce training grants.The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on May 22 approved the BUILD America 250 Act, a sweeping five-year transportation bill, that would direct the Department of Transportation to establish safety standards for self-driving trucks.The committee said the piece of legislation represents the "first ever autonomous commercial motor vehicle framework." The bill cleared the committee by a 62-2 vote, making it eligible for consideration by the full House.Among the proposed rules for AVs, the bill would require manufacturers to certify that their vehicles meet federal safety standards before operating across state lines.The legislation also covers the grounds for remote drivers. The bill states that remote workers must be physically located in the US — a provision that comes as lawmakers have raised questions about where autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo base their remote operations.During a Senate hearing in February, Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts grilled Waymo over its use of remote assistance workers in countries outside the US, including the Philippines, calling it "completely unacceptable."