The Future of Trucking: Driver Assistance or Fully Autonomous Trucks?
The American economy heavily relies on truck drivers, who haul essential goods like food and fuel nationwide. Trucking remains a demanding and often stressful profession, combining exhausting hours with monotonous tasks. As technology advances, it promises to reshape the industry, introducing driver-assistance features designed to improve safety and reduce the strain on truckers. However, some companies are pushing the envelope further by developing fully autonomous trucks that could eventually eliminate the need for human drivers altogether.
Enhancing the Driver’s Experience with Technology
In recent years, technological advancements have led to new features that assist truck drivers on the road. For instance, Volvo Trucks has introduced updates to its long-haul Volvo VNL model, incorporating systems such as adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and lane-keeping aid. These tools are intended to make driving large trucks safer and more manageable. During a recent media demonstration at a closed track in South Carolina, NPR’s auto reporter experienced firsthand how such technology can transform the driving experience. The truck’s sensors eliminated blind spots and automatically controlled speed and braking under different traffic conditions, including simulated stop-and-go scenarios.
Joel Morrow, president of Alpha Drivers Transportation and an experienced truck owner, praised these technologies for reducing driving stress, calling the advanced Volvo VNL "easier to drive than most cars nowadays."
Addressing Industry Challenges
Truck driver turnover has historically been very high, exceeding 90% annually for large fleets, according to a Congressional report analyzing data from the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The organization cites a shortage of drivers as a primary cause, while drivers themselves point to low wages, challenging hours, and poor working conditions—such as a lack of parking and restroom access—as factors driving the churn.
Volvo Trucks believes that improved truck design and technology can help retain drivers by improving comfort and usability. Along with advanced safety features, the redesigned Volvo VNL offers drivers better visibility, ergonomic seating, and more comfortable living quarters in the cab, equipped with amenities like a fold-down bed, TV, fridge, and microwave. The company argues that investing in driver comfort can reduce costly turnover, which often exceeds $10,000 per replaced driver due to recruitment and training expenses.
The Leap Towards Fully Autonomous Trucks
Beyond driver assistance, some companies are developing trucks capable of operating without human drivers. Aurora Innovation, collaborating with manufacturers like PACCAR and Volvo Autonomous Solutions, is pioneering self-driving technology that employs a mix of cameras, lidar, radar, and onboard computing to navigate highways independently.
These fully autonomous trucks lack traditional driver comforts; for example, a Volvo Autonomous Solutions truck showcased recently omitted beds and entertainment, as no human operator is required on board. Testing is underway in states with favorable regulations and suitable roadways, such as Texas. Journalists who have ridden in these trucks report a surreal experience as the vehicle maneuvers traffic, stops at intersections, and merges onto highways entirely under computer control—with a "safety observer" present, but not driving.
While autonomous trucking promises to revolutionize freight transport by potentially lowering labor costs and increasing efficiency, it also raises concerns among drivers about job security and the future role of humans in the industry.
A Technology Crossroad
The trucking industry now stands at a crossroads between two technological futures. On one hand, driver-assistance features aim to support and retain human truckers by making their work safer and less taxing. On the other, fully autonomous trucks threaten to replace drivers entirely, reshaping the workforce and the nature of long-haul freight.
Ultimately, how these competing visions unfold will depend on advancements in technology, regulatory decisions, economic pressures, and the trucking community’s acceptance of change. For drivers like Aaron Isaacs, who describe trucking as "the last honest job," the hope is that technology serves as a tool to empower rather than eliminate their crucial role in the American economy.
