Leak readiness
Part A of the case sets up three likely next injects. Statements are pre-written so we can respond within the hour. Statements are signed by the CEO. Nothing goes out until the CEO approves it in the group chat.
Rules if anything leaks
- Never deny something that might be true. "We are looking into it" beats a denial we have to retract.
- Holding statement within 1 hour, then a full response the same day.
- Tell the affected people first: drivers and families hear it from us before the press does.
- No blaming individuals or Globex publicly. The CEO owns it.
- Casey is the only voice to media. Everyone else forwards press to Casey.
- After each response, update the timeline on the Response Center site.
1 · "Momentum ignored warning signs"
Case: the COO raised concerns about horns honking nonstop, music blasting, random blinkers, and brief sudden braking. Drivers laughed it off; Globex and the CIO ran QC checks that came back fine. Two weeks later, the crashes. We are already positioned for this: restart requirement #4 (warning escalation overhaul) is public, and the drivers email acknowledged warning signs.
Before Monday's crashes, some of our autonomous trucks showed unusual behavior: horns, turn signals, music, and brief braking. Our team raised concerns. Globex inspected the trucks, and quality checks came back clear. We now know that was not enough. We should have kept those trucks off the road until we understood the cause, and that decision is on me.
Our independent review by Mandiant now covers those earlier reports and how they were handled, and we will publish what it finds. We have already committed that no autonomous truck returns until every safety warning is escalated and acted on immediately. Drivers can report anything unusual, anonymously, at 1-800-555-0199.
2 · "Momentum planned to replace its drivers"
Case Exhibit 8 has a cost analysis replacing drivers with engineers (one tech manager for every 3 or 4 drivers). The CEO paused layoffs "until after mid-year." This lands hard because Ashley was a driver and our brand is "people first." Stay consistent with our stance: no job guarantees, and decisions come to drivers first.
Like every company in our industry, we have studied how automation will change driving jobs. No decision about driver roles has been made, and none will be made while we are responding to this crisis. When we do make decisions about the future of driving at Momentum, our drivers will hear it from us first, directly, with training and support as the starting point.
Right now, our drivers are the reason deliveries are still moving. Ashley Williams was one of them.
3 · "It was a hack" (or a ransom demand)
Case: Safety Manager said "might have been hijacked … no ruling out terrorism." Brian (Globex) was paranoid about data ("we don't know who is watching"). If confirmed, the risk is sounding like we are blaming the hacker. Stance: a criminal attack does not lessen our responsibility. Defer ransom questions to the FBI.
Investigators have found evidence that an outside party interfered with our autonomous systems. This was a criminal act, and the FBI is leading that part of the investigation. It does not change our responsibility: these were our trucks, and keeping them secure was our job.
Our autonomous fleet remains off the road. We are following the FBI's guidance and will not share details that could compromise their work. Families will hear verified findings from us first.
Also have ready
- Former driver speaks out (Charlie Howth, launch-day driver, Today Show and a book deal): "Charlie helped launch this program and we respect his voice. We have invited him to talk with us directly."
- Lawsuit from a family: "We will not fight families in the press. We will keep covering every cost directly while this is resolved fairly."
- Chairman or board pressure (Margie Simpson, skeptical of autonomous trucks): we present the full plan at the next board meeting (our recitation leader sits on the board).