How long before truck drivers are not needed?

Last week the US landed a drone on an aircraft carrier and this thread is debating whether a driverless truck can back into a dock. The Anne Ferro's of this world will probably work for getting federal monies diverted into programs to accelerate the development and deployment of these technologies into the trucking realm.

Welcome to the ghost of trucking future!

 

Not only us but the DOT........

 

One BIG difference. The drone was still piloted. A pilot sitting at remote controls landed it. We've done that for a very long time, with the RC Aircrafts hobbyists use.
A driverless truck implies that it is solely controlled by artificial intelligence.

 

We've seen this before in the 80s...called Maximum Overdrive..haha

 

Sure, it's a big difference, but add what Google is doing in pass. cars, or the new MB S-Class, the potential to slip seat remotely piloted vehicles, and it's not too hard to imagine. Kinda like turnpike-triples, robo-trucks, whether remotely guided or full AGV will probably be restricted to certain types of hauls but in many ways it is easy to see as a flexible variation on what intermodal does today with local drivers handling the first/last miles.

Get it while you can!

 

I see it more possible in Locomotives, rather than on the free for all interstates.
A quote from Jurassic Park comes to mind here.

Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

It's morbid just how much people devalue other people. Some things shouldn't be taken for granted, such as how much more value you get with a person; over a machine.

 

In a "confined" area I could see some validity to the article in the time frame posted.

Ports-shuttles for example (I think they use this in Europe already) and while the Longshoreman's Union isn't what it used to be, I'm sure they'll continue to use their influence to keep this tech from being applied practically for some time to come still. But it's a long step from replacing a wharf-jockey to replacing an entire industry anyway.

Automated warehouses are already here, but it's a cost factor. Companies with an established system are reluctant to outlay the upfront expenditures to totally convert their floors to an automated system. I'm sure it will happen over time. But still it doesn't have any bearing on the mom & pop 15-20 employee shops that will still make up about 78% of the shipping in this country.

(Admit it, how many places have we been to that can't be bothered to re-pave their docks and they're going to lay out $10mil for a robot workforce?)

Well I look at it this way, I could spend a ton of money at some college and act like I know everything
(,,,and have the paper to allegedly prove it.)
Or I could just keep asking shippers/receivers dumb questions and improve my knowledge.
And they sure appreciate people that show an interest in their product.

 

I think for most loads it is worth the pay just to have a driver around to watch the load so that no one steals it and to have a driver who can take care of problems if the truck or trailer breakdown. I do see it as quite possible within 50 years many of the yard dog jobs will be replaced by automated trucks. I imagine if that happens drivers will just drive into the yard and drop the trailer at the entrance to the DC, while the automated truck would park the trailer and retrieve an MT for the driver...

 

Well that is all we need. Trucks running wild down the highway because some computer chip cracks or a wire gets lose. The sad thing is these computer geeks think this is all a good idea.