Autonomous trucking has been a topic of conversation for as long as autonomous cars. It’s no wonder, because one of the biggest advantages of a self-driving vehicle would be commercial use. And while autonomous trucks are still in the early stages of development, they may be closer to launching than you think.

Autonomous trucks are self-driving vehicles that use sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar to gather data about their surroundings. The truck’s computer then analyzes this data to make decisions about how to safely navigate the road. This reliance on advanced technology brings up unique challenges, such as how to bypass dpf pressure sensor issues, which could arise during operation.

Like with any innovation, autonomous vehicles will come with benefits and challenges alike. In an ideal world, autonomous trucks will help improve safety and efficiency while reducing fuel usage. However, lots of testing will need to be done before these self-sufficient trucks are sent on the road.

Benefits of Autonomous Trucking

Autonomous trucks are an exciting innovation that could completely revolutionize the trucking industry due to their variety of benefits.

One major benefit of autonomous vehicles is their increased safety, since they can be programmed to drive more safely than a human would. Many truck accidents are caused by human error such as driver fatigue, distraction, or drug use – risks that would be eliminated without a human. This means that accidents could be significantly reduced, which would save lives and prevent injuries. Truck accidents often cause serious injuries like brain damage, according to truck accident attorneys at Mickelsen Dalton. Not only would fewer accidents mean fewer injuries, but also less money wasted on lawsuits and truck damage repairs.

Another important benefit of autonomous trucks is their improved fuel efficiency. These vehicles can be programmed to not only drive more safely than humans, but more efficiently too. Improved efficiency means less fuel being used, which would save companies money and reduce emissions.

A final benefit of these self-driving trucks is that they can operate 24/7, meaning that productivity would increase. It would also reduce traffic congestion because they can operate more closely together than human-driven trucks.

Challenges of Autonomous Trucking

Despite safety being one of the benefits of autonomous trucks, they are also one of the challenges. Although the technology and design of autonomous vehicles will ideally allow them to drive safer than a human, many tests will need to be done first. Deploying a fleet of self-driving trucks before ensuring they are safe could lead to disastrous consequences, like fatal accidents.

The trucking industry is also heavily regulated by the federal government, and of course, autonomous trucks won’t be excluded. New regulations will need to be developed, and that can be a complex and time-consuming process.

The cost of this new technology is also worth noting. It’s incredibly expensive to develop a new type of vehicle, especially one run by advanced technology. Over time as it becomes more regular, the technology costs should decrease.

The final barrier will be acceptance. Both truck drivers and the public are wary of this new technology, which is completely understandable. Sending out 80,000-pound vehicles with no human driver is a scary thought, but with time and education, they can be properly developed and accepted by the masses.

Concerns & Impact

One consequence of implementing autonomous trucks will be a reduced need for human drivers, leading to job loss. Not only will drivers be at risk of layoffs, but mechanics, dispatchers, and more. That being said, new jobs will be created, such as engineering and software development roles. These jobs have a mismatch in skill sets, however, so if truck drivers can’t adapt to the new technology-based roles through training, they will be out of work.

Another potential impact is more pollution. These trucks will need to be designed in an environmentally friendly way. If they are powered by fossil fuels, they could emit greenhouse gasses into the air.

The legal aspect of truck accidents will also be called into question. Truck accident lawsuits are already complex, and this will only make determining liability more complicated. Who would be responsible for an autonomous truck accident – the manufacturer? The owner? The software company? These questions will need to be addressed.

Additionally, the autonomous technology works by gathering intel surrounding the truck, which includes people and cars. This raises the issue of privacy, and whether this data could be used to track people’s movements or habits.

The Current State of Autonomous Trucking

Recently, companies have begun testing autonomous trucks on the roads. TuSimple, Waymo, and Uber are a few of the companies that have brought autonomous trucks to public roads, and they have begun gathering data to make improvements. Other companies that focus on deliveries are also beginning to invest in self-driving trucks, such as UPS and FedEx. They see the value in efficiency and cost reduction and are jumping on the bandwagon.

Governments are also starting the process of creating regulations. The United States, Canada, and Europe have begun regulating autonomous trucks, with the safety of the public in mind.

Autonomous vehicle technology is evolving rapidly. TuSimple and Aurora have both developed a Level 4 autonomous driving system for trucks, which is also called high-driving automation. This doesn’t require any human interaction with the vehicle, because it is programmed to travel between Point A and Point B using geofencing technology. Severe weather can still impact Level 4 autonomous operation, which is one of the few barriers between Level 4 and Level 5, the highest level of autonomy.

Autonomous trucking has the potential to revolutionize the trucking industry, but there are still challenges to overcome. A variety of challenges will need to be addressed before autonomous trucks can roll out onto highways. With continued development and testing, autonomous trucking could have a major impact on the economy, the environment, and the trucking industry.