Driverless trucks give researchers, engineers, and truck drivers alike a chance to think about what this change could look like. While some see this as an opportunity to create an entirely new industry with no humans driving, others believe there will always be a need for humans behind the wheel. The question we should ask ourselves is not if driverless trucks will become mainstream but if they’re going to remain relevant when other alternatives come up.
What are driverless trucks?
Driverless vehicles are a new concept quickly gaining traction in the automotive industry. In this instance, driverless trucks will remove the human element from a job that previously required a human to be at the wheel. In September 2017, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) authorized its first driverless truck for commercial use on public roads across America. Driverless trucks will help streamline an enduring industry year of change and innovation.
While some see this as an opportunity to create an entirely new industry with no humans driving, others believe there will always be a need for humans behind the wheel. The question we should ask ourselves is not if driverless trucks will become mainstream but if they’re going to remain relevant when other alternatives come up.
Is it safe to remove humans from the job completely?
Driverless trucks represent a significant shift in how we think about our jobs and how we work. As with any significant change, there are many different opinions on what it means for us as humans. Some people believe that driverless trucks will remove the human element from trucking and create an entirely new industry ultimately without people in charge of driving. Others believe that drivers will still be necessary because drivers can see things that machines cannot and act quickly when needed.
Regardless of where you stand on this issue, one thing is for sure: We need to find a sustainable solution for how humans interact with machines and technology.
This is especially true in regards to driverless trucks. With so many people invested in the future of this idea, it’s essential to ask questions like, “Is it safe to remove humans from the job completely?” Rather than focusing on whether driverless trucks will eliminate truck driving, we should ask more fundamental questions about how it affects humans behind the wheel.
Will the future of trucking be automated?
The future of trucking is still up in the air. Several aspects need to be considered before we can answer this question. In recent years, driverless trucks have been created and tested. They’ve also been met with criticism from some who believe that humans will always need to be behind the wheel because they’re needed for safety reasons. As these trucks become more and more popular, we will see which side of the fence people fall into on this issue. The only clear thing is that it seems like a new era for trucking is coming soon!
What are some alternatives to driverless trucks?
A big question to ask yourself is, why do we need driverless trucks? There are a variety of alternatives to driverless trucks that could be even better than the idea of having a human at the wheel. All-electric vehicles, for example, are rapidly growing in popularity and are becoming more mainstream. These cars don’t have any emissions and require no license or certification to operate. They also can make long hauls without stopping for refueling.
Navigation systems help you drive with much less stress by showing you the best routes or detours around traffic jams. It keeps you on track during your drive and alerts you when there’s an accident ahead. Lastly, ride-share services allow drivers to make money while not driving—allowing them time to rest when they aren’t working. This eliminates the risk of driving during hours when traffic is heaviest, increasing safety on the road.
Is this a case of technology replacing human jobs?
The answer is that it’s not so simple. Driverless trucks are a new concept, and they have yet to take root in the trucking industry fully. The first commercial driverless trucks will likely be used for freight rather than passenger transportation, where they could be a valuable alternative to human drivers. So, while driverless trucks may be new technology, it is more likely that they will coexist alongside humans behind the wheel instead of replacing them altogether.
Despite this potential coexistence, driverless trucks can still offer some genuine benefits for truckers in the future. Many aspects of trucking are already being automated by technology, such as route planning and timekeeping. Driverless trucks can also help reduce accidents and save lives compared to human drivers who make mistakes due to fatigue or distraction with further automation. Additionally, there is no question that driverless trucks will provide greater efficiency than human drivers currently do, given that they can operate 24 hours per day without supervision.
Conclusion
Driverless truck is a big topic that has enormous implications for the future of trucking. The question of whether or not removing humans from the trucking job will make things safer is up for debate, but it’s safe to say that the future of trucking looks different than it could have before.
