XPO | Only A Matter of Time Before Self-Driving Trucks come our Way?
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Yeah, That is a big problem coming our way. Artificial Intelligence will replace more jobs than anything else in the next 10 years. Believe it or Not
Yes , technology and innovation do lead to job loss.....And job creation.
Before any driver of a large , dangerous , potentially hazmat hauling vehicle is replaced by automation , electronics and technology there are some MAJOR obstacles:
1.) Public opinion - would you want a truck with no driver next to you on the highway?
2.) Who's responsible? - let's just say we get to that point where there are driverless trucks...As of now , drivers are responsible for the condition of the equipment ( after a pre-trip inspection ) Will the terminal manager be responsible? How about some poor person that simply fueled the vehicle? Maybe the supervisor that closed out the load will be responsible? Who will take the blame if there's a problem on the road?
3.) Laws need to be in place - Right now , our laws are not ready for driverless tractor trailers. No politician wants to be responsible for a tragedy based on a driverless truck accident. No company wants to get sued out of business because of a driverless truck crash. This will take some time to work out.
4.) Hacking - if it's connected to the internet or not , the potential for terrorism is high. Right now , there's a degree of risk involved by requiring a physical presence to operate a tractor. Take that away and add in remotely controlled tractors pulling hazmat , fuel , or anything that's dangerous and you have a HUGE risk.
This just scratches the surface of the issues that are facing driverless tractors. This is something that you don't have to worry about for years...
sportsman800
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Can't be any worse then some of the drivers around here
Con-F-Trucker
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While all of what you said is true you forgot these trucks rely on the same internet we do to navigate ect ! and with Sun spots or lost signal here is another issue not to mention electrical and mechanical failures ! that lets face it ! It was made by man it's going to break its only as good as the people whom built it !!
guitarman1
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8.5 years to retire (Hopefully). I think Ill be safe, Good luck to everyone else. I think the liabilities will be a major concern. Don't think non-Driver can do P&D...
joes bar and grill
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I think you're wrong. it's gonna be sooner rather than later, the technology is here now, the only major issue now is regulatory approval.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying never. I think the technology is right at hand. It's the infrastructure that needs to be put into place to allow automated trucks to be safely used on interstates that will lag behind. We can't keep our highways and bridges current and in good repair with current funding let alone make them safe for driverless trucks. I think in our situation line haul would be most subceptable to automation . The highways would become more like railways with sidling yards to split trailers and forward them to customer locations or breakbulks essentially mimicking our current rail system in a sense.
Having a multi stop city p&d route is much more complicated. Your going to trust a low paid shipper or receiver to unload a trailer without damaging , stealing another customers freight ? And that's just one problem to overcome.
We currently have a rail system in place that could become operaterless much easier but I don't see that happening in any large scale.
I think it's will partially become a reality in the future but I would not lose any sleep over it in the meantime.
It's overly optimistic wishful thinking by some to think that it's as easy as they want you to believe.
Having a multi stop city p&d route is much more complicated. Your going to trust a low paid shipper or receiver to unload a trailer without damaging , stealing another customers freight ? And that's just one problem to overcome.
We currently have a rail system in place that could become operaterless much easier but I don't see that happening in any large scale.
I think it's will partially become a reality in the future but I would not lose any sleep over it in the meantime.
It's overly optimistic wishful thinking by some to think that it's as easy as they want you to believe.
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Ask yourself , " Would I get in a car with no human driver if it pulled up right now? "
There's testing for these vehicles now and in California manufacturers/testers of driverless vehicles asked for and received permission to make these vehicles without conventional steering wheels and pedal controls. Just a dash and a seat.
Hacking is a real threat. If cell phones , TV's , computers , email , anything electronic and connected to the internet have and can be hacked - what do you think will happen to a set of doubles pulling hazmat at 2am south of Chicago?
And like it was mentioned above , a proof of concept would be trains. It would be a LOT less challenging to automate trains on so many levels , yet there's little talk of this happening anytime soon. I will say I have used automated trains at major airports though.
There's testing for these vehicles now and in California manufacturers/testers of driverless vehicles asked for and received permission to make these vehicles without conventional steering wheels and pedal controls. Just a dash and a seat.
Hacking is a real threat. If cell phones , TV's , computers , email , anything electronic and connected to the internet have and can be hacked - what do you think will happen to a set of doubles pulling hazmat at 2am south of Chicago?
And like it was mentioned above , a proof of concept would be trains. It would be a LOT less challenging to automate trains on so many levels , yet there's little talk of this happening anytime soon. I will say I have used automated trains at major airports though.
joes bar and grill
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You don't get it, it does not matter one bit what you think, it's been done in Colorado, and is going to be legal in Ohio soon. The truck and software manufactures have powerful lobbyist. you might want to freshen up your resume autonomous trucks are going to be here sooner rather than later.
"Ohio Governor John Kasich announced a $15 million investment to turn a 35-mile stretch of a state highway into a testing ground for autonomous vehicles. Taxpayer dollars will fund research that threatens one of the five most common jobs in the state.
The test stretch of Route 33 is located outside Columbus -- the state's capital and largest city -- and its mayor, Andrew Ginther, believes the project positions central Ohio for more business and jobs in transportation and automotive research. Central Ohio is a logistics hub -- it's only a day's drive from 60% of the United States."
How Ohio's Gamble on Self-Driving Trucks Could Backfire
I never wrote what I think. But , I tend to agree with the idea that there is a LONG way to go before there are automated , driverless trucks. I hope it does happen during my time because driving can be very demanding and LTL P&D work will physically break down a person over the course of decades. I know first-hand.
Maybe the lobbyist will win and laws will change to allow what's needed for driverless trucks. But , setting up a test strip on a limited amount of state highway isn't the same as making autonomous vehicles legal. My resumé will stay dusty.
joes bar and grill
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I guess that depends on your definition of long, I think in 5 years you'll see it on a limited scale and it will be mainstream in 10 years. Autonomous trucks are the perfect tool for line haul, P&D not so much.
Maybe you are right.
What I haven't seen or read is how much ( if at all ) human truck drivers are consulted or studied when developing the software and the overall finished product.
Seems to me like you would model these vehicles and/or their software after successful drivers and their driving habits.
Sarcasm is not my intention: I do not see the consultation of drivers in the development of software simply because of the corporate view of drivers in that we are viewed as a bunch out to cut corners and rob the company. I think they have more than proved that point with the installation of the EOBR, drive cam, and the tracking by the hand held computer.
renegaderider
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How will autonomous truck react when deers jump in and out along freeway. Will it lockup the brakes or programmed 2 hit it. What happens when road becomes icy and need chains. I think it's still got a lot of work 2 do. They tested autonomous trucks in a bright clear weather day in super perfect conditions
joes bar and grill
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You can bury your head in the sand but , it's coming sooner rather than later. An autonomous truck will be able to out react any human because they can see everywhere at the same time, computers that are in your car react and send commands in milliseconds, how long does it take you to see the deer, figure out what the deer is going to do, and react? Don't get me wrong I'm no fan of autonomous anything, but I can see it's here now and it isn't going away.
And on the flip side of this discussion, as proven many times by our present Cascadias anti-collision system, they can dangerously over react in many of these situations. I would much rather not have the system as to have it. But I will agree that autonomous trucks will come.