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I find this hard to believe …
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are proving to be safer than human drivers. This is a fact that many people don’t believe.
Yet, this is what’s happening as big companies have poured millions if not billions into the AV sector. And they’re running tests, they’re making adjustments.
The first question that comes to mind for truck drivers is: what’s going to happen to me? I’ll try and answer that a bit later … but first let’s look deeper into autonomous vehicles.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a disruptive innovation and in many good ways (maybe many bad ways too … but we’ll stick with the good ways for now).
They say that AI can predict traffic flow delays … but this is also hard for me to grasp. Here’s why … several years ago, I was returning from the Monterey, CA area to El Paso (I spent several years while in the Army at Ft.Ord / Monterey).
I was coming down I-5 and wanted to connect to I-10, taking me back to El Paso. But I also sort of wanted to continue on I-5 and return to El Paso via San Diego. Hey, I was on vacation.
As I scoured my cell phone looking for the least congested route, they ALL were congested! There is a number of traffic arteries connecting, for example, I-210 with I-10 – but they’re ALL congested. On one occasion I did switch from one route to another – big mistake. It was like exchanging a $5 bill with a stranger, thinking you made a good deal.
Now if a truck driver has freight bound for Seattle from Dallas, how do they navigate the LA area? This is where AI route optimization is supposed to kick in but I’m still waiting to see how it works when there is congestion everywhere.
There’s so much that isn’t understood by me such as: if there is congestion then driver accidents and certainly crash-related deaths should decrease. You know, they have always said that “speed kills”.
And, if you’re sitting in a “parking lot” on I-10, how can you get into a crash? You’re being safe but you’re losing money and probably late for pick-up or delivery.
Other than route optimization, “machine learning” is using sensors that can detect driver sleepiness. AI can detect and recognize objects. These are great safety features.
AI has also improved real-time tracking and theft-detection which will save big bucks in the industry. Further, AI improves routine chores such as call check-ins and document handling.
There’s even AI-driven transportation management systems (TMS) and if you have maybe even one truck and you’re not using a TMS, you’re in a losing game.
Information gathering, monitoring, optimization – all are habits that lead to success! All of these enhancements provide real-time tracking of goods, trucks and personnel with remote monitoring and control – and these tools are here now. Spend a little money now to eliminate unnecessary expenses far into the future.
Now, back to the issue of driver sustainability … in my opinion, it will take decades for long-haul drivers to go away. Why? Remember the safety features being built into trucks and driver behavior that was first mentioned above?
Well, all it will take is for something to happen that was NOT supposed to happen – this may set back innovation for years. Did you read about the lady who locked her grandchild inside of her electric vehicle only to find out she could not get into her car? Freaky and scary!
Even with a decent reception from some in logistics for autonomous trucks, there may be millions of people not ready to adopt this new technology.
For now, the tech industry is more advanced than society’s acceptance of autonomous trucks. The industry will need to slowly build up a strong safety record to convince the public, insurers and lawmakers that wider adoption is okay.
So in the meantime, I think there’s a lot of money to be made in trucking and brokering for quite a while – shippers, trucking companies, freight brokers and other third parties should all be ready now for a bright and prosperous 2025. It’s time! Or, “por fin”!, the drought is ending.