Autonomous trucking has been the fun new buzz word for the past 5 years, and are we really any closer to a full roll out of automated trucks? My short answer is, no. The first autonomous vehicle actually debuted all the way back in 1939, and while we are much further along than the original self-driving car, we still have a ways to go before a full rollout in Class 8 trucks. Will I see a rollout of autonomous Class 8 trucks in my lifetime, probably, but I doubt it will even be this decade. Beyond the technology, there’s liability issues we will need to solve, a population that will need to be won over, a host of legislative rulings, OH and all of the other components vital to a truck that will need to be changed in order to accommodate Level 4 and up autonomy.
Seth Clevenger at Transport Topics just put out a great article on this exact topic.
About the Author
Logan utilizes a holistic approach to assist trucking companies with growth, and survival in one of the most volatile times in our history. A strong risk management program is critical for every business, but trucking companies are extremely susceptible to breaks in the risk management process. Maintenance violations, driver violations, breakdowns, driver turnover, and the list goes on, all have a domino effect on each other, and the cost of operating a trucking company.