Why Autonomous Trucks Won’t Replace Drivers Anytime Soon

AI in the transport industry has been a hot debate for a while, dividing opinions on where the future of the trucking sector is headed. The applications of AI in trucking have been taunted as one of the key signs of autonomous technology taking over and replacing human truck drivers.

It’s no secret that AI in trucking can drastically reduce transportation costs and massively increase efficiency. Governments worldwide are also investing in infrastructure upgrades to make Autonomous vehicles possible, with the industry projected to attain a market growth of USD 76.01 billion by 2032.

However, more arguments exist against autonomous trucks taking over the trucking sector and replacing drivers anytime soon. This blog explores the real risk of job loss from AI and automation in the transport sector and why it’s highly unlikely that autonomous trucks will replace drivers anytime soon.

1. The Technology Isn’t Fully Ready Yet

Self-driving trucks have been dominating the media with their successful test runs, but there is a world of difference between a controlled test and actual trucking. Roads are unpredictable. Construction zones, unexpected weather conditions, and reckless drivers are just some obstacles automated systems have trouble dealing with.

A human driver can recognize subtle social cues on the road, such as when a pedestrian hesitates at an intersection or another driver waves them ahead. This is something self-driving autonomous systems do not yet respond well to.

Multiple truck driver news and reports reveal that trucking still remains a popular career choice despite automation fears. Many Americans, for instance, still consider pursuing careers in trucking due to factors such as pay, job stability, and work/life balance. 

The demand for people behind the wheel would not be strong if self-driving trucks were ready to take over driving duties. In reality, full automation is still years—if not decades—away from being able to handle all of the dynamics involved in truck driving.

2. Safety Concerns and Liability Issues

When an accident happens with a truck, the liability is already very difficult to determine. You can’t immediately establish who would be fully responsible when a self-driving truck causes an accident. Whether it’s the manufacturer or the truck owner, the liability laws around autonomous vehicles are still unclear. So, adopting this technology on a mass level would be risky for any business. 

Even with today’s driver-assistance systems, autonomous vehicles are still involved in accidents daily. Recently, the US government’s road safety agency has opened investigations into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system after multiple reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions. If passenger cars can’t be trusted with this technology, it’s difficult to imagine how it can be fully trusted with 80k-pound trucks.

Regulators are also wary of permitting fully autonomous trucks to operate without the guidance of safety drivers. Until liability questions get worked out and the technology gets proven with some real-world miles, truck drivers won’t be effectively replaced by AI or autonomous trucks.

3. The Trucking Industry Relies on More than Just Driving

A truck driver doesn’t just pilot a vehicle from one point to another. They do pre-trip inspections, manage and secure their loads, communicate with dispatchers, and handle issues they encounter on the road. 

Similarly, drivers frequently help unload or check in freight when a load is delivered. A self-driving truck can’t argue with a warehouse manager over a late shipment or decide to take an alternate route based on a change in delivery instructions.

But even if we assume that self-driving trucks will evolve and be able to handle some of these logistics adjustments, human intervention will still be required. For example, drivers will still need to manage operations, assist with freight, and perform other small tasks necessary to move goods around. 

The work may change somewhat if automated vehicles become more practical for certain long-haul trips—which seems likely at some point—. Still, it’s not as though human-assisted drivers would simply disappear altogether.

4. Infrastructure Challenges

Besides vehicle technology, infrastructure preparedness is essential to introducing autonomous trucks. To support large-scale autonomous operations, massive upgrades are required in existing roadways, traffic management systems, and telecommunication networks. 

5G connectivity is also required for real-time communication between vehicles and smart infrastructure. This appears to be a huge challenge as the non-uniform global presence of 5G hampers the performance of autonomous trucks in certain geographical regions. Additionally, these vehicles rely on highly advanced sensors and computing systems that must be constantly maintained and updated.

Sure, they could add self-driving truck lanes to significant highways and handle other technology integration challenges moving forward, but that would require years of construction. Until these infrastructure challenges are addressed, most companies will find that replacing traditional truck drivers with AI won’t be a more viable solution anytime soon.

Final Thoughts

The thought of self-driving trucks in the trucking industry seems very interesting, but it’s far from widespread adoption. There are still safety concerns, as trucking is much more than just driving a truck down the road.  As of now, truck drivers are the lynchpin of the supply chain and will continue to be. 

The conversation should shift from whether automation will replace truck drivers to how it can help them do their jobs better. The future of trucking is not an either/or choice between humans and robots; it’s a matter of how to make the two coexist and work as a unit.