Co-Driving and Autonomous Trucking
Co-Driving and Autonomous Trucking
When people make the argument that automation will take jobs from humans, trucking is often used as the industry example. But the developers of autonomous trucks aren’t looking to create a future where human jobs are eliminated from the process. That’s simply too complex of an undertaking. In fact, co-driving and autonomous trucking could coexist together for a long, long time.
The first autonomous trucks are currently being tested on the road. It’s a reality that is quickly taking shape and will likely be more prevalent in the upcoming decade. But it will likely not be taking jobs from humans.
What Autonomous Trucking Will Look Like
Automation will give drivers a break from long stretches of highway driving, but they’ll still spend those hours buckled in, behind the wheel. They will be able to use their discretion and take over driving when needed. If there is a hazard in the road, or they are reaching a stretch of urban driving, they may revert to human control. All of this means that current drive time regulations will still apply.
Uber, one of the developers of autonomous trucks, sees a future where the driver and truck are work together as a team. They envision a system where the vehicle drives the highway miles, and driver takes over once the truck is off the highway and travelling to the next dock. All of this makes the human element very necessary for a long time to come.
Because of this, the current advantages of team trucking will still apply in an autonomous world. Co-driving and autonomous trucking will go hand-in-hand. The human element of freight shipping will also be a factor.
Drivers as Customer Service Reps
Picture yourself as the owner of a company expecting a shipment. An autonomous truck pulls up to the dock. If no one is on it, any questions about the delivery may go unanswered. And what if that freight is not what you ordered? With no human on board, there is no simple resolution.
Sure, there may be technological solutions to this problem. But there’s something to be said for an in-person resolution in this situation.
A Greater Demand for Truckers
Automation could drive down the cost of freight, stimulating demand, and leading to more trucks on the road. All of this would mean that upcoming changes could stimulate the market for truck drivers, not kill it. Because of this demand, and current increases on expedited freight, it will make sense for companies to be utilizing team trucking, and co-driving teams on their trucks, even as automation becomes the new norm in the business. Co-driving and autonomous trucking will both be an integral part of the future of this industry.
