Self-driving trucks operating in Arizona, truckers fear for jobs, public safety
Autonomously operated trucks could make drivers obsolete
July 2, 2020
On Wednesday, self-driving trucks engaged in the world’s first network of routes between Phoenix and Tucson.
The technology company TuSimple has tested autonomous trucks with safety drivers to ensure and maintain the truck on its route in the past, but the plan is to operate completely self coordinated by next year, according to an AZ Central article
“Our ultimate goal is to have a nationwide transportation network consisting of mapped routes connecting hundreds of terminals to enable efficient, low-cost, long-haul, autonomous, freight operations,” said Cheng Lu, president of TuSimple, in a prepared statement.
The company plans a series of phases that will be implemented by 2024 to expand the use of fully automatic trucks in 48 states.
According to the article, the first phase, covering the rest of this year and 2021, trucks will have travel routes between Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. By 2022 and 2023 services will expand to include Los Angeles and Jacksonville, Fla.. Finally, in 2023 and 2024, automatic truck operations will extend to all the other contiguous 48 states.
According to the article, there are plans for similar networks in Europe and Asia.
Several companies like, Aurora, Daimler, Waymo and Embark Trucks are competitors who see a shift in the trucking industry to self-driving vehicles, according to a Vox article.
TuSimple’s focus is on long-haul trucking and they haven’t spent much time on self-driving cars. One of their competitors, Waymo, plans to focus on last-minute delivery such as UPS and AutoNation.
Charlie Jatt, Waymo’s head of commercialization of trucking, shared how the company plans to move forward in the industry.
“We see ourselves as a technology company, not a trucking or fleet management company,” Jatt said, according to a transcript of the call. “We’re developing the Waymo Driver and then will partner with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to ensure that our technology can be successfully integrated on classic trucks that are being manufactured and sold to the market in the future.”
Granted, the automotive industry will have a lengthy trial period before the majority of businesses and people can safely utilize self-driving vehicles, but it appears that the technology is moving forward through usage in manufacturing, shipping, and infrastructure.
The displacement of an estimated 2 million truck driving jobs is of great concern for the near future. Researchers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that there are just under half a million long-haul drivers whose positions are the most vulnerable to autonomous technology, but points out that companies will still need individuals for other, trucking-related tasks, like customer service and loading, according to the Vox article.
Experts hope the new technology will offer a solution to some of the dangers of truck driving, such as long hours behind the wheel, unforgiving weather, and driving under the influence.
Brenna Bayles, a Kansas-based driver who owns her own truck and is studying in the Pima Community College program, said that she doesn’t fear automation, despite concerns that AI could take away jobs in the industry. In fact, she wants to own a fleet of self-driving vehicles herself one day.
“The buggy-whip manufacturers didn’t want to see cars come along,” Bayles told Recode, arguing that self-driving cars will ultimately be safer and cheaper to insure. “They either get with the program and work in that field, in the capacities that they can, or they find another field, but we don’t stop progress.”
Norita Taylor, a spokesperson for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is concerned with numerous unanswered questions, like how self-driving trucks will navigate on-the-road situations typically handled by humans, like emergencies, problems with cargo and dealing with law enforcement on the road, according to the article.
“We have a lot of concern that federal regulators are going to put on blinders and push for more technology as the answer to the industry’s problems without considering the negative impacts of those technologies,” she said.
AyRick Mitchell • Jul 7, 2020 at 10:16 am
The MAJOR issue with truck transportation is the ASTOUNDING IGNORANCE of everyday people in regular 4 wheel vehicles and rented 6 wheel vehicles.
(NO experience driving a slow, top heavy vehicle)
They take no concern for the weight difference in their vehicle and a commercial vehicle AND how that affects when stopping.
WE, as professionals, have special trading. Plus, our current situations, there’s a lot of press about “teenagers” texting and driving. However, 90% of ALL drivers – ALL – are watching, handling or using their hand held electronics WHILE driving.
Yes, after 27 years in professional transportation, I welcome automated vehicles yet the MAJOR irresponsible party will remain the casual everyday driver.
El tigre de los Andes • Jul 6, 2020 at 10:32 am
yeah, a lot of truck driver will be going to de unemployment department, and all because androids are building self-driving trucks, because they are not human, they are selfish androids
scott • Jul 5, 2020 at 11:18 am
will the robot’s be able to share the road ? will they be able to adjust, adapt to conditions, like weather , heavy traffic , potholes and debris can the robot’s communicate about situations out there? so much going on out here moving freight from pickup to delivery and in between i guess customer service won’t be part of driving anymore
thomas couchon • Jul 5, 2020 at 9:22 am
You can run across I-10 in good weather. But running across I-80 in winter is another story. Even running across I-20 in Texas or I-40 is a different story. There is still a lot of work to do before Level 5 is achieved.
Ashley Grant • Jul 4, 2020 at 3:13 pm
I invite these techies to ride with me for one day and witness the absolute chaos on our highways. If a self driving truck can navigate what I navigate daily, more power to them. I think the “four wheelers” must be automated first to make them more predictable. Will the electronics hold up to the rumble strips we call highways? Just my thoughts.
Dee Dee • Jul 4, 2020 at 2:55 pm
I’m a trucker and I love my career. How can an 80000 pound auto truck cruise down the highway with no concern about the others on the road? How is it going to make quick lifesaving decisions? I would love to see it dock.. This is about greed and stupidity. Thousands are going to be injured or killed. Now deal with that. The insurance will be astronomical and it should be. Truckers with families and dreams will be crushed. American land of the free and home of the GREED…
Mike couch • Jul 4, 2020 at 2:14 pm
No no no no no no no no no. Think of ALL the PEOPLE you’re putting out of work. This is how we take care of our families
Jeet • Jul 4, 2020 at 12:16 pm
This is bullshit! What we gonna do? How we gonna make our livings??
Barry • Jul 4, 2020 at 11:16 am
I’d like to see one of these navigating an abnormal load down a narrow village an not causing any damage ??
Allen Baltzer • Jul 3, 2020 at 8:51 pm
Been doing this for 26 years. Nothing else I want to do. Next generatiins priblem I guess. If there are no jobs in the future then no one will miss it. But there are a lot of situations that will have to change. Scale houses and driverless trucks? Hummm…. a lot of work to be done.
Carson lee • Jul 3, 2020 at 4:56 pm
I hope all the the saving to be had from this venture, be carefully monitored for large payout to innocent victims of crashes, when changing weather like black ice ,heavy fog and snow suddenly interact with these self driven 80 thousand lb vehicles.
I have been a professional trucker for most my life. We don’t live in constant perfect weather 365 days a year. I wait to see another blow to the industry as usual !