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In impeachment-related video, president makes time for autonomous trucks

A video of President Trump telling associates to “get rid of” Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch includes unrelated chat about self-driving vehicles.

Image: The White House

An impeachment-related video released over the weekend by an associate of President Donald Trump includes unrelated footage of the president and several dinner guests discussing autonomous trucking, shipping and electric vehicles.

The video appears to show the president telling associates to “take out” and “get rid of” Ukrainian Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch — efforts that are at the center of the case Democrats are presenting in impeachment proceedings against the president.

Made during a dinner with donors on April 30, 2018, the recording was released by the attorney Joseph Bondy, who is representing Lev Parnas, a Soviet-born businessman and associate of Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal attorney.


Parnas is under federal indictment for campaign finance violations.

About an hour and ten minutes into the video, one of the guests, apparently a trucking executive, suggests the government “as a solution, not a problem,” should run a “500-mile piece of road, and dedicate a lane on both sides for autonomous trucks.”

“Talk about driver shortage,” the executive states. “All the technology is there, right now.”  

But “you can’t put them with the cars,” he adds, because of “insurance, the regulation, the states, the perception.”


At that point, Trump inquires, “How safe is autonomous?”

“It’s absolutely safe,” the executive says confidently, before another voice interjects: “I’m scared of those — you see those cars driving by themselves.”

The conversation then shifts to Amazon. A guest complains the e-giant is getting a bulk rate even though it “is sucking up” postal services capacity.

If they are using up capacity, why are they getting a bulk rate, he asks.

“Everyone at this table gets that rate,” another guest responds.

The video includes discussion of Tesla and electric cars as well, starting around minute 57.

3 Comments

  1. Noble1= Shamash (Shemesh/Utu) the Babylonian God of the Sun(god of justice, morality, and truth-(enforcer of divine justice )

    GOOGLE THIS !
    Leaked audio reveals that Trump didn’t know semitrucks run on diesel — yet the industry is among Trump’s most ardent supporters

    Quote:

    “Trump also appeared unaware that truck drivers have safety regulations that prevent them from driving more than 11 hours a day.
    “You mean they can only drive so much?” Trump said in the recording. “Like a pilot? I didn’t know that.”

    Trucking executives and industry experts who listened to the tape told Business Insider they were astonished by Trump’s ignorance.”

    End quote .

    You see they don’t know ! When government doesn’t “know” , they are easily mislead and manipulated through,
    ie: lobbying .

    In my humble opinion ……….

  2. Noble1= Shamash (Shemesh/Utu) the Babylonian God of the Sun(god of justice, morality, and truth-(enforcer of divine justice )

    “If someone who’d never heard Maiden before – someone from another planet or something – asked you about Maiden, what would you play them?” Harris once asked. “I think ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’ is the one.”

    Read More: Everything You Need to Know About Iron Maiden’s ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’
    End quote.

    As it is written , it shall be done …………..

    IRON MAIDEN – “Hallowed Be Thy Name” [Lyrics]

    YOUTUBE IT !

    The sands of time for the long haul trucker are running low ……….

  3. Noble1= Shamash (Shemesh/Utu) the Babylonian God of the Sun(god of justice, morality, and truth-(enforcer of divine justice )

    Trump states : “it’s an amazing concept”, referring to autonomous trucks .

    Concerning the 500 mile stretch :
    Quote:
    ” should run a “500-mile piece of road, and dedicate a lane on both sides for autonomous trucks.”

    Had these clowns applied forward thinking many years ago , they would have constructed their own roads for semi trucks , and the transition to autonomous would bypass the “problems” they are facing today concerning insurance , sharing the road with other vehicles , regulations , etc .

    The semi truck roads(Highways) would have been privately owned by the “united carriers” . A little like the railroads are by Rail co’s..

    In my humble opinion ………

Comments are closed.

Linda Baker, Senior Environment and Technology Reporter

Linda Baker is a FreightWaves senior reporter based in Portland, Oregon. Her beat includes autonomous vehicles, the startup scene, clean trucking, and emissions regulations. Please send tips and story ideas to lbaker@freightwaves.com.