An autonomous truck has made the 2,400-mile trip from Los Angeles, California to Jacksonville, Florida. According to Embark, this trip sets the bar for what is possible with its autonomous technology.
Last year, Embark announced that it was running the longest self-driving truck route in the world. The company was delivering appliances for Electrolux from Los Angeles to El Paso. This new route is about four times longer.
According to Embark, the goal isn’t to replace drivers entirely, but rather to let autonomous trucks pilot themselves on highways, then use drivers to navigate on/off ramps and local roads.
For this trip however, Embark had a driver sitting in the driver’s seat, ready to take the wheel at all times. According to TechCrunch, Embark CEO Alex Rodrigues claims that “the vast majority of the driving was autonomous,” but drivers did intervene occasionally.
Because of this, the drivers followed hours of service regulations, meaning the trip took 5 days instead of the two days that Embark claims will be possible in the future.
As a self-driving truck company, Embark is a bit different than some of its competitors. They don’t manufacture their own trucks, but rather work to integrate their self-driving systems into others.
Their so-called “sensor suite” consists of five cameras, three long-range radars, and at least two lidar sensors. This allows their trucks to map its surroundings in real-time instead of relying on “pre-mapped” routes.
As for how the truck performed on its test run, the company isn’t releasing any firm details yet. According to Rodrigues, the truck ran in autonomous mode for “hours at a time with no disengagements, and when they did occur they were usually only a few seconds.”
In the past few months, Embark’s fleet grew from two to five trucks, and by the end of the year they hope to grow to a total of 40.
Source: truckinginfo, fleetowner, overdrive, techcrunch, cnbc, engadget
Michael O Hunter says
Tech’s taking over all different types of jobs leaving some occupations less human. Some in some fotm unemployment rates will take a hit in my openion.
Andy S says
Surely there’s millions of people ready to replace drivers with “driving engineers” aka minimum wage earners who never see home and only take over for the fun bits.
The real world implications of this doesn’t -seem- feasible, but I’m sure people said the same about replacing horses with vehicles and machines with basic human labor, so who knows.
shogun says
The drivers in these demo videos look so relaxed. Maybe Otto , Embark and others could advertise this as a mobile spa and make money on the side. I know I would love to sit waiting for a computer to make a mistake while my attention is lowered due to being in a Zen like state of mind.
Ronin Tondah says
THIS is the future of trucking…just like FLYING! You make a good point…THE POINT. That’s the point that needs to be worked out…THE INTEGRATION OF MAN AND MACHINE!!!
Griffin says
Would that be something akin to a near-death experience?
‘Cause that’s already included in the
Free 48 hour
demo session
at no extra charge.
David says
I have been driving since 2002. My own truck since 2002. My own authority since 08. I ran a small fleet from 05-07 under swift. I read this article and immediately noticed the GLARING eld related part.
All this legislation which for ELD which any experienced driver will tell you DOES NOT make ANYONE safer has a purpose. This article lays it out plainly. By accident but still it’s quite obvious. By FORCING independent truckers to run by computer the inevitable result is DECREASED productivity. By doing this at the INFANCY of autonomous TRUCKS you make the benefits of using autonomous trucks far more pronounced.
Now normally i can run LA- Jacksonville in about 3 days. With ELD i assume that becomes 4-5 days (according to article) but the AUTONOMOUS truck can run it in 2 days. THE INEVITABLE result is Mega carriers automate, increasing their profits and removing the single biggest headache in trucking DRIVERS. The system becomes smooth. There is no DRIVER shortage. THe fastest to automate will be the winner. Independent truckers are GONE save for a few niches where automation is impossible. Agriculture, Nursery Stock, Bull Haulers etc. No small business truckers are going to benefit from this. This is the death of independent truckers.
We just became like makers of wagon wheel. We won’t die out today. But auto trucks will be running within 5 years. Sooner if they can survive the inevitable fatalaties and legal fights to decide risk/liability of these things. Once that happens it will happen quickly. After the first lawsuits are filed and decided. THen the Mega carriers will dive in and there will be almost ZERO long haul drivers. At best regional ones. Costs will go down. Profits for large carriers will go up. And withing 15 years…… Lets just say I’m planning my early retirement. Good luck with the lawsuit. I’ve already purchased a 98 and am having it rebuilt. To stay my extinction a bit longer.
Nemo says
When are they gonna start working on autonomous trains? That would seem like the logical place to start. Oh yea, the railroad union will not let that happen!
Arthur Ponder says
And there it is. Common sense not so common when money is involved.
Paul Jacobson says
Autonomous trains have been around for years. 2 that I have dealt with: 1. Peoplemover system at Chicago’s Ohare airport moving between terminals and remote parking lots. 2. Aluminum smelter/recycler in Berea KY. Trucks bring in aluminum cans and long billets of solid aluminum go out on unmanned/automated trains. I believe they go to a rolling mill and are made into more beverage cans.
With short haul freight between dedicated points automated trains are just a different form of long conveyor belt—been around a while.
zee says
being fought by unions…
FRA/us dot have already thought this one in to place..
Robert Scott says
Just wait for the lawyers to get hold of any reason to sue. The litigation will be wild.
Big Cajun says
I started watching all this “trucking stuff” when I was a little boy, (when my Papa taught me how to play chess). And today, it still amazes me how no one seemed to see this coming.
Phase 1:
Carriers became mega-carrier monopolies. Mega-carriers treated their drivers like garbage. Government did nothing to stop mega-carriers (and in some cases paid them stimulus money to “hire” more naive drivers). Mega-carriers became so rich, they bought off our politicians. More driver/employee protections were removed. Drivers were/are treated so poorly at mega-carriers, that most mega-carriers have nearly 100% turnover rates.
Phase 2:
Government continues to reward mega-carriers, which allows mega-carriers to run their trucks at poverty rates, yet they can still afford new fleets every 2-3 years (amazing really). How many small business do YOU know, that never got any help from the government, and went under? Imagine how many small, more locally distributed businesses (and ultimately greater/more stable profitability) there would be, if the government weren’t the patsies of mega-carrier monopoly CEOs?
Phase 3:
Government begins brutally punishing smaller/independent carriers; effectively helping eliminate mega-carrier competition, through the use of ELDs and revenue crushing, unconstitutional regulations; while giving larger carriers exemptions and “ways out”, fuel savings, and tax write-offs that most small companies don’t even know exist).
Phase 4:
End result is a “driver shortage” that has been intentionally brought about, paving the way for trucks that do not have to be paid salaries, benefits, take breaks, and will not request home time.
Phase 5:
The Constition becomes worthless; consumer/civilian protections are erased. We can’t even protect our bank accounts and elections from being hacked; yet the government will allow private corporations to launch rockets into space, and are actually allowing autonomous trucks to be put on the highway. How does it feel to know that yours and your family’s lives are being used as lab rats to test 80,000 lbs potential weapons on the highway, without your consent or knowledge? Yet, the FMCSA is allegedly concerned about “safety”.
End Game:
The United States of America as we know it, is finished. We just don’t realize it yet. We have been sold out, and there is no coming back from it. When the Chinese emerge as the new global economy (and it will happen probably within the next 3-5 years), America will finally get to see these so-called “job creators” for what they’ve always been.
The US has already lost the greatest war we ever faced, without firing a single shot. Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and the political circus that accompanied them, were the final distractions.
Melissa says
👍🏼
John says
👍🏾👍🏾
Deborah S says
You hit the nail on the head how can we forward this to Congress n Senate as you wrote it . It may not change anything but let them know we’re not ignorant of what’s going on. O/O planning retirement .
Joe2boltz says
The new technology on my 2018 cascadia isnt lasting any better than the technology that was on the 2015 i had b4.
It constantly needs adjusting or fixing. The foward radar wont work in snowing conditions. Its always hitting the brakes
Because it thinks its having a collision warning. The air pressure sensors aren’t accurate most times. I have to constantly hit the main braker to reboot. The opti idle has needed to be fixed 2x now in only 22,000 miles.
O sure, driverless trucks are just around the corner. They better keep a mechanic/driver in the glove box. To bring the truck in or to a dealer to wait 2 or 3 days to get this new technology fixed. Its a recurring deal with this new junk.
RT says
My 2018 freight liner is normal a piece of junk
SnowWalker says
That’s assuming you are close to a dealer, and who has staff that can fix the problem. I have spent seven days sitting with my load waiting for a tow truck; then, sitting and waiting for a tech to be flown in to fix the new and self diagnosing and self repairing technology.
Barney says
Jamming on the brakes in snow- perfect!!
Sounds fun
Billy smth says
I like the way the article stated that the disengagements were only for a few seconds each time….let me see if I get it correctly….the computer disengages for a few seconds …it takes the human a few seconds to react ….so 6 to 10 seconds of.a loss of control….is somehow a good thing….
John Finney says
When did this truck stop to get fuel? It takes more than a few seconds and last time I did it stopping to hit the john took way longer than 3-6 seconds. Not sure if I believe these made up statistics to make this look good!
Barney says
Absolutely a good thing!
At all costs we must let computers and AI take over, general public has been programmed and snoozing all along. Embracing this trinket junk in the name of progress.
Obsessed with an ‘on-line’ virtual world, never once questioning corporate/political intention- or what the end game will look like.
Forget questioning it now, zone out, get fat, get high, do some tweeting, go buys something- etc
It’s too late, the giant idiotic snowball has been rolling down too long and is now to big to do anything to change it!
All in the name of greed and stupidity
RT says
Freightliner a plastic..snap together piece of horse dump..
Robert Walters says
You can not replace people with machines they don’t and can’t think! Leave the trucking industry alone; we don’t need or want this crap on the trucks we drive!! It’s more trouble then help!!! You dam college educated morons/ idiots!!! Humans are the safer than computers;!! We think they just run programs!! Computers can never replace a person, and they are to expensive to buy and fix..
Dale Johnson says
While I mostly agree with your sentiment, it’s a fact that autonomous is safer than humans. They don’t get distracted, fall asleep or have pride and ego. I have driven with driver-assist systems like lane guidance, collision avoidance and rollover detection, and no, they’re not 100% effective, but they do increase safety. I see this autonomous technology only working with a human in the driver seat on long stretches of highway.
Josh says
Speak for yourself.
I’d love me some auto pilot. I could catch up on my reading.
SnowWalker says
Even when in compu self driving mode, you need to be aware of everything that going on around. The only safe place to read in a truck is when it’s parked at a truck stop.
Barney says
You must sit there like the zombie you’ve been embracing to become
John F. Belcher says
And a few other thing 😉
Barney says
Forget fighting it
The suit in the Mercedes that drives by has decided
Your gone!
BRODERICK DUNNIGAN says
Who ever coming up with this just marking they getting this idea from the movie Halloween 3 Wich came out in 1980 if not mistaken check out the movie ever thing they are doin was in that 1980 movie
BRODERICK DUNNIGAN says
Who ever coming up with this just marking they getting this idea from the movie Halloween 3 Wich came out in 1980 if not mistaken check out the movie ever thing they are doin wat in that 1980 movie and the robot in that movie got hack
BRODERICK DUNNIGAN says
That’s not technology what they are doin was in a 1980 movie start hiring good drivers and pay them decent
Astin says
I guarantee the autonomous trucks won’t be capable of driving in the extreme winter weather. Either they’ll end up in a ditch or stopped on the road. With snow or rain blowing into the front end of the truck, it won’t be capable of determining that it’s only snow or rain and will think it’s at a brick wall. A human would know they’re traveling straight at 40 mph but a machine wouldn’t understand that. The other problem is that in extreme weather, the autonomous truck won’t ‘anticipate’ that there might be a problem up ahead and won’t be able to stop in time or consider driving OFF the road to avoid an accident.
Barney says
It don’t matter.
At all costs must get rid of humans in the name of progress.
No point in logic or complaint now- this is what ya’ll wanted
Shawn says
Jobs losses. The future will be rough.
Barney says
Thank rampant greed and an unrealistic ideaology of endless growth
Don Hess says
This is a case of doing something just because you can. Many good points made, particularly about extreme weather conditions. This applies to trucks and cars both. The solution will likely be either autonomous trucks which are only allowed to operate on “rural” stretches of Interstates in clear weather, or a scenario where a lead truck is driven by a human, and 2 or 3 autonomous trucks programmed to follow the lead truck follow it. Even that scenario presents problems though. What happens when the lead truck passes a slow moving vehicle? Do the followers pass also? When? What if a knucklehead 4-wheeler decides to get in-between two of the rigs? More questions than answers at this point. My main concern in this early developmental stage is that I don’t want government money thrown at this to make it happen, when there are so many needs much, much more pressing.
Jerry Beck says
Autonomous trucks driving themselves? What is next? A “truck only” highway? I am a retired owner op looking for a second career flying drones for the military.
Lloyd Fleming says
That would be a major mistake trying to depend on those autonomous trucks. 80k pounds with momentum down an expressway or hill is nothing to test under the controls of a computer. There are motoring public, animals, pedestrians, and many other variables that require human judgement and adjustability. Plus, computers/electronics have glitches and can be hacked. Also, lightening, static electricity, high frequency radiation and radio waves all interfere with electronic devices.
Melissa says
👍🏼
Nicolas D. says
Now let’s try the same on the I-94 at this time of year. I’ll be watching with a mouthful of popcorn. But it’s nice. They’re doing some hardcore testing right there lol.
Rick says
Let me translate. “The purpose is not to replace drivers but to use drivers to navigate on/off ramps and drive on local roads.” And to have someone to blame when something goes wrong.
GC says
Good one Rick…haha
Someone to blame
You got that exactly right…lol
Anyway… it’s still a few years away. Time to think of something else to do.
Truckers are doomed
Barney says
Exactly Rick!!
Some fool must shoulder the liability
Trumpeatshisownpoop says
I’d hate to be the test dummy while they’re working all the problems out. I hope the guy they put in this thing got paid a lot of money.
Todd says
So in the future an EMP weapon could take out our countries logistics system? I wonder if the people have ever thought about that.
J. Roger Boudreau says
Theres been a lot of changes in the past 44 yrs. since I started in this industry. some have been ok others just some big shot or the gov. looking to make a point. and make our jobs harder. we got HOS to deal with, we got truck that can’t idle any more because of regen. Regen issues have almost been the worst here in canada. and the cost of repairs unreal. Somebody’s gettin rich on the backs of truck drivers. AGAIN what can we do. Low pay, no waiting time and you still got to deliver on time. and now computor controled trucks. Whats Next???
bil.com says
It is ironic to me that the driver for this company is a projected target of 2 days transition from LA to Jacksonville .Drivers in teams were doing this very transition in 1970 under the ten hour rule, I do not understand all of the drama and hocus pocus If the states would go back to enforcing highway traffic laws those highway deaths would decline !
Harold T. Hart says
I have on my current truck and the previous one turned off the cruise management systems because they don’t work properly. They regularly over react and if i had not been at the helm a disaster might have occurred. I see a great future for up and coming attorneys.
Jeremy M says
A rather deceiving headline. It appears a truck equipped with an automated driver system made a 2400 mile leg. The reality is the automated system was implemented sparingly over the course of the trip. Woop-dee-doo! Still,not much confidence in this system by its developers many years in.
Rollr4872 says
Glorified cruise control?
Doug says
This is going to be hilarious watching how this joke unfolds. It’s just unfortunate that people will lose their lives because some pro lazy life can’t just keep his/her nose in games and away from real life commerce.
Allan Bradburn says
I have one proclamation to make about autonomous trucks. If I see one in my travels, I vow to do everything in my power to make it go as slowly as possible. Even stop. It will become my mission to interfere with or even prevent its progress.
Of course the company who shipped its freight on this autonomous truck was Electrolux. The company who bought out Fridgidair in Greenville Michigan and laid off 2000+ employees and moved the entire operation to Mexico. When the American people can’t eat because they have no jobs, these companies are going to the front line.
Andrew says
I had the same thought. But I realize that the government/state/police will probably start using cameras in the trucks to monitor other vehicles and mail you a ticket. This is yet another problem I haven’t heard anyone discuss.
Jerry says
They aren’t finished yet! Some trucker will have to have a sit down with a programmer to teach them how to bitch and complain! THEN, and only then can they replace us.
Freightshaker says
It will be interesting to see how the insurance lobby handles these trucks. I can tell you none have jumped up to take them on. Georgia just implemented the first “truck only” lanes. Imagine eventually every state will have truck only lanes for self driving trucks! Can’t wait to see the day all the “smart” products become self aware!
Matt says
Ahhh. These automated Trucks will always need drivers at some point. Personally i think it is still far far away from happening but msybe I’m wrong. What i do know is the ELD absolutely sucks and does nothing to make roads yet it does make the drivers quality of life suffer. Thankfully after 11 years full time and about 8 years part time of OTR, I just graduated nursing school at 44. Nursing won’t be perfect but it’ll be a much better living than driving with an ELD.
ron says
Just paying drivers by the hour would make many problems go away. I always figured they really wanted robots. Unless these robot trucks have their own dedicated lane separated from all the other traffic, I will never feel safe.
We have an ever-increasing population and people looking for ways to put people out of work.
Chuck says
Why do I want to get paid by the hour? Who says that I want to work as cheaply as you do. If you want an hourly wage, then go find one. We already have too much government interference.
Rollr4872 says
Georgia is building a truck only highway, it makes me wonder if it’s actually to help integrate self driving trucks and make people feel safer on the road with them.
Road Rage says
This story is a non issue right now. If the driver behind the wheel was required to operate the truck according to HOS rules then the truck didn’t run too autonomously. When it makes the entire trip minus the driver taking it to get fuel or bathroom breaks fully autonomous, then we’ll have something to read about.
Jerry says
I think people in the human driving workforce will find a way to sabatage these auto trucks….they will suddenly become very expensive to own by companies
AzDon says
Current law requires a responsible, licensed, qualified human at the wheel to take responsibility for any and all mishaps and to bear witness to these mishaps and report on them…….Putting fully driverless vehicles out there is going to require a level of liability acceptance that is beyond reasonable…… And getting legislation to allow it isn’t likely
MrNA says
Human greed and Technology will be the death of all of us. I can’t wait for the carnage. Probably not I’m my lifetime.
Nothing like the sound sight of 10s of thousands of geese migrating. No GPS or collision avoidance. Free, natural and timeless.
Arthur Ponder says
Say that. Good ole common sense. Do computers pay taxes? Vote? Liable? The leaps and bounds some are attempting to make a life from the couch are scary. This world has went from handshakes to emogies, dialogue to #OMG from across the room. Marvin Gaye put it best. #whatsgoingon
Wendall Barnes says
Who in their right mind is going to sit back being board out of their mind, while a truck is doing the majority of the drive? We drive to drive not go out to be a passenger. If you have someone just sitting there, they’re eventually going to lose interest in being out there. Then you will have to get to the point where you lobby Congress to let you run your trucks without drivers period. What are current drives going to do when they no longer are willing to be passengers?
Robert says
It’s not the end of the world as we know it. Planes fly themselves and have for years. Pilot takes over for the critical stuff, take off and landing, plus any in flight emergency. It can be done in trucks. They answered one of my main concern about self driving. Sensor not GPS. Thank the Lord. But, I hope the sensors are better than lane departure and on guard collision mitigation system. They see shadows, catch solid objects and over passes. Plus, no lane marking means no lane departure warning. In addition on guard malfunctions in snow, ice and rain. I hope this technology doesn’t malfunction. My next concern is if the driver didn’t drive, then how can they get paid. Certainly the greedy big carriers will pay less as the driver won’t be doing much driving.
Road Jouster says
Let us hear what the driver has to say – the truth!! Ahhh… but we know that won’t happen.
We’re is the FMCSA HOS regulation covering an attending driver in an autonomous truck?
– One driver in a truck going down the road on stand-by to interven if necessary.
– Wouldn’t that be same as being perpetually on-duty?! (The Regulation?)
– A solo driver — nothing teaming about a human and machine.
– Disengagment events were directly interfaced and recorded status changes for the attending driver as they occurred?
– Must have received a HOS waiver which by passes the ELD regulation all together.
– Oh, since an automated machine is implemented within the most heavily regulated industry in the nation, for which there are no regulations – all HOS regulatory bets are off?!
Yet demonstrated safe Independants must comply with ELD mandate. What a twisted scam being perpetrated in our faces by the industry and government.
Rollr4872 says
I really hope autonomous trucks are further off than people are making it sound. I really want to get my cdl but at this rate it sounds like autonomous trucks will take over before I’m even old enough to start applying for driving jobs. I’ve heard truckers make good points about what autonomous trucks can’t do and all the flaws that are being ignored but it really seems like people are pushing to get autonomous trucks up and running as soon as they can.
Rick Woodcox says
Yes lets do this. Just think trucks driving them selfes. And lets make them all electric so their is no need for fuel. This puts truck stops out of business cause they won’t need to sell fuel. Then lets put 3 million people who drive trucks out of work. This will be alright heck their will be no need for trucks. With millions of people who are involved with the trucking industry these people won’t have any money to buy anything with. Then lets put all these people on some sort of welfare and teach them a new trade. Of course this will cost all of us who try to live on the beans we steal from out neighbors garden. Cause we won’t have any money to buy something to eat cause we want computers to drive the products that we all like and depend on. Yet we don’t have any money to buy anything cause someone figured it would be better to put driverless trucks on the road to deliver the goods that the people who develope the driverless truck eat cause they are making money to buy the things their trucks bring them while the other ten million people who were involved with the trucking industry can’t afford to buy anything cause they don’t have a job. So the person gets hungrey and decides to steal from his neighbors field so that person can eat. This will really fix the problem.
Terry Barron says
The more robots that take over the work force will keep social security broke and no one paying into the system! I think that every robot and ATM’s and any automation type system that replaces workers must pay a tax into social security and Medicare system to make sure the money is there for the ones like me that have paid into for over 42 years now and the young people who are just starting out! Robots have taken over some many of good high paying jobs in the auto industry and robots can weld, paint and now build most of cars made today. Over the next 20 years there will be a major shift of automation in the work force. There will be a new work force needed to service and repair, install and program this new work force. What about a work force of robots that the average person could own and go to work for you and you contract out your own robot as yourself? Then you are responsible for all the upkeep and payroll taxes? I would buy a small work force of robots myself!