Freightliner has created the first autonomous truck that has been approved and licensed for use in the United States. There’s no ‘but’ here; the truck has an autonomous vehicle license and can operate in the state of Nevada freely as long as there’s a driver sitting behind the wheel.
This huge news was heralded by a suitably huge publicity stunt – the nation’s first licensed autonomous truck drove itself across the Hoover Dam. Accompanied by music that would feel more suitable in the score of a blockbuster movie, it was immediately preceded by a video introducing the truck which was projected onto the dam itself. The video broke world records for the largest projected video ever with a surface area of over 420,000 square feet – equal to nine football fields or over 87 IMAX screens.
Daimler Trucks North America, which produces the Freightliner brand, has named the truck the Inspiration. “Tonight is all about inspiration,” said Martin Daum, president and CEO of DTNA at the unveiling event. “The Hoover Dam symbolizes America’s can-do spirit as little else can.”
The Inspiration is designed to do much more than just beep at a driver if the vehicle leaves its lane. It operates at Autonomy Level 3, which means that though a driver is required to be behind the wheel at all times, the truck steers, accelerates, brakes, and makes navigation decisions all on its own. The “driver” isn’t even required to pay attention to what the truck is doing. Autonomy Level 4 is the only level higher and it requires a vehicle to be able to perform absolutely all driving functions for itself in both occupied and unoccupied vehicles.
There are a few things that the Inspiration cannot do while on the road. Currently it will not change lanes to pass another vehicle, and drivers are required to take control during an emergency. As of now, the Inspiration’s self-driving mode is limited to only highway driving, only during good weather, and only during daylight hours. The truck cannot be used without a human sitting in the driver’s seat.
While Google and other companies are working towards autonomous vehicles using complex new technology, the Inspiration relies on tweaks to existing technology to operate. It uses a mixture of cameras and radar to navigate the roadways.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Richard Stocking, president of Swift Transportation, said “This definitely could be a win-win for the driver and the company he works for, to be able to do other things when he is in that autonomous mode.”
In addition to giving drivers other work to do while the truck drives itself, DTNA also claims that fleets can look forward to fewer accidents, better fuel efficiency, and less stressed and fatigued drivers.
Despite all DTNA’s enthusiasm, it looks like we’re still a ways away from autonomous trucks running OTR. So far only four states have approved autonomous vehicles driving on public roads and though Inspiration passed all of the tests put before it, it looks as though for now it’s meant to be just that – inspiration.
Next Story: Insurance Broker Steals Millions, Leaves Carriers Unprotected
Source: forbes, spectrum, ttnews, ttnews, gobytrucknews, fleetowner, overdrive, overdrive, nola, washingtonpost
Images courtesy of Freightliner/DTNA
Larry says
Can it back itself up in some of these ridiculous tight docks? If it can do that, than you have something to boast about.
Matt Crawford says
Will it back into a dock or park the truck for me too? How about I just stay at home and monitor it through my smart phone?
John says
Let’s see how it does in the ice and snow
really says
if you read the article it says good weather only.
ASATT says
Less accidents?? Better fuel economy? I think the proof is in the pudding…& the pudding hasn’t been served yet.
michael says
Wow! they will figure out a way to put everyone in America out of work.
words from the great pumba ” AND IT STARTS “.
Travis ford says
Just like the government and big business love illegal workers for cheap pay this will one day keep good hard working underpaid tax paying truckers from getting the pay we so deserve!!!I can see the forest from the trees.
michael says
Oh yeah now that I’ve read the whole article. Minimum wage truckers that’s awesome.
I sit behind the wheel with this stupid brake assist crap and I put my foot on the pedal to slow down. Some idiot pulls in front of me and slows down faster than me And I get whiplash because of uneducated 4 wheelers. Let’s spend money on that instead of eventually putting me out of a job I mean a career.
Paul says
Can’t wait until the first software glitch causes multi-vehicle accident and the resulting finger-pointing exercises start…:rolleyes:
JohnS says
So who does the inspections, fuels the truck, as someone else said backs it into those ridiculous docks? Also, if you need a driver still, how will this save money?
More costs for truck, still required to follow logging restrictions because of driver, this is not something that’s been logistically thought out. It is a stunt to show a proof in theory of a large vehicle that can drive itself (sometimes). I can possible see a value in its use as a terminal to terminal situation. But other then that its rather useless because many tasks still requires a human. Obviously, the thought is to have a truck running 24/7 without a driver, yet this does not even come close to being that solution.
Kenneth Jackson says
Do we really need I class 8 truck rolling do the interstate driving it self with a driver sitting behind the controls doing nothing asking for trouble if it malfunctions and the driver is not on point or not paying attention !!!!
Kajidono says
Best not look up. You’ve got thousands of tons of self flying planes in the sky overhead 24/7.
volvo nation says
This is just rediculous!
Matt says
Driver falls asleep and an emergency happens in which they would all of a sudden need to take control? Too many variables (other drivers). Does it watch for people on cell phones? Know how to get someone off your tandems? I don’t doubt it can drive a straight line, but it can’t do what we do. Never will.
Jim says
Can I get up and pour a cup of coffee and grab a snack while the truck is driving itself?
marcelo says
Yeah, mobile phones will never work, they are so bulky and expensive and computers at home are a ridiculous idea…who will want a pc at home ? Face it dude, your job is gone…you are unemployed…you just dont know it yet….:=)
dave says
more like “Desperation”…i can see the huge fleet owners and dispatchers rubbing their hands together and laughing evilly..’now we dont have to worry about paying a real drivers wages,after all babysitters come cheap’
LindaPV says
You obviously haven’t priced babysitters lately. Not your 13 year old neighbor, someone who is background checked and knows CPR. Not that much less than some of the hourly wage truck drivers make here in Hawaii….plus you have to be able to lift and carry 75 pounds!
timothy says
Stupidity . So swift thinks it’s a good. Wonderful see how there drivers drive they all ready have trucks driving there selfs. I want to see the guy that’s going to hit auto pilot and take of when it fails and try to take it out of the problem and take the blame when it kills someone. Not all drivers are steering wheel holders. You can’t replace experience thanks
Les_gvt says
I give Swift a break on this one- considering how bad their drivers are- for them- this most likely is a good thing
Solo says
I think it’s a great concept but not sure how safe people would feel with these out on the road. Technology can be glitchy. Yes the capabilities are impressive and awesome but if it malfunctions, which all computers do at times, then that piece of equipment is now putting millions of lives at risk.
Kajidono says
None of the tech they are using is new. Mercedes has had this stuff on its European trucks for years.
Jimi Boyd says
I wish people would read the article. It only perform autonomous functions during highway use and still requires a driver behind the wheel. So basically it has super advanced cruise control. With it you can take your feet off the gas and hands off the steering wheel. I would say off the shifter too but I’m willing to guess it’s an automatic….
lglavish says
‘Like’
Just me says
Beyond stupid! What next, TNT in baby rattles?
tommy says
I would love to see how they would fuel at the truckstops. Better yet how they would tarp and strap a load on a flat bed. Need us humans for a lot more then they think.
Mikextx says
We will see if they still think this is a good idea once hackers take control of one of these trucks and run it off a bridge.There are some things that should be left alone.
Kajidono says
It has to have access to the internet for that to happen. A self contained system with no outside lines can’t be hacked without physical access to the machine itself. Meaning they’d have to hack it in full view of the driver.
Charles S says
Exactly, a autonomous truck can be hacked as easy as a car. Hazardous/explosive loads will be the primary target creating a lock out in the system and controlling it to the white house or better yet to the same hoover dam used for video. Seeing benefits but no major use
fred says
Radar and camera projections are only shown as forward searching… nothing on sides or to rear of trailer?!? Guessing nothing matters back there anymore…!!! How quick and easy is it to take over controls when needed? Still has a long way to go… GOOD!!!
CJ Klingensmith says
Mark my words… “ANY job that can be done by a machine WILL be done by a machine.”
Al says
You’re missing the point. This a Autonomous vehicle is just the beginning. Eventually there will be robotic fueling stations, robotic truck maintenance facilities etc… This technology is just in its infancy. The FAA has already begun looking into the delivery of packages by drones for Amazon. This will all lead to reduction or elimination of jobs. Exciting times, but with a whole host of other social problems to fix.
Britney B says
I really don’t see this being a good idea…
Ryan says
They’ve not yet licensed autonomous cars. How can they get a truck approved?
tom obrien says
License the truck serves the truck buyer which is the shipper. License the CAR serves the car buyer- the driver. one of those buyers is served by the automated vehicle, and its not the car buyer.
jerry says
lifting weights; i’ll be able to exercise while watching a t.v. series…
R.Boan says
I guess nobody here read the the article,it stated the autonomous mode will not work at night or in bad weather conditions and will not function unless the driver is in the seat.The driver will still get to do all those satisfying things like fuel and backing at least for now.
I think when the complete automated vehicles are here it and they will be some day, it will be one of the greatest things to happen to mankind since penicillin. The roads will not be filled with angry hurried aggressive drivers,getting rid of the personalities behind the wheel and just going from point A to B.
Kelly says
Until the machine malfunctions, remember all this is technology designed by humans, it is fallible. Haven’t you seen Transformers and Terminator?
While there are benefits, they’re certain it wont do w/o humans others have mentioned. It doesn’t open trailer doors, secure cargo, interact with customers, the list goes on.
Oh, I know robots will one day do that and we won’t be needed.
Thereis positive and negative to all advancements.
Denise says
Most drivers don’t read the entire article. I have been saying for years this was coming, but was laughed at. To be quite honest, I am very surprised it happened this fast. I was projecting 2020 before this would happen.
Now drivers will get paid by the hour to monitor the operation until drivers are not needed otr.
Just think no more lying Recruiters or dispatchers, or drivers.
Just so glad I got out when I did.
Prayers for all the people who are still driving.
Dan says
Yeah, instead of the skill and experience of a truck driver, I can see I’ll have to obtain advanced computer logistic skills.. Screw it if I’m a company driver I’d set up a TV and a microwave in the front seat get a water gun, slingshot, and turn into a fat frickin kid, eat watch TV cause trouble for 4 Wheelers. Shoot at least I’ll spend time holding up a sign will work for food as I’m cruzing down the highway…
Robert says
Another way the top 1% can screw over the working middle class. You can bet that they will push for $7.25/hr minimum wage because we will be just like a burger cook to them. And if swift thinks it is a good idea that just tells me I told you so.
Rick Fessenden says
My father was an engineer. Whenever something new came out he always said, “It looks good now. But what happens when something goes wrong? ” Computers crash, electrical connections corrode. Sattelite navigation loses contact. Swift may have just done something nobody thought possible, found a “driver” even dumber than the ones they have now.
Dan says
Wait until the first fatality because of a system malfunction. I have run a Cascadia with collision mitigation, almost ran someone off the road when it got a false reflection off bridge supports and locked up the brakes. Good one freightliner for creating an even more dangerous system!
Phil says
Better have your own camera on the inside. If you’d wiped out and killed someone you had better believe Freightliner would be blaming you instead of their system.
Corey Jackson says
Good point my man! All the bigwigs see is dollar signs, but we see potential for disaster if evildoers get ahold of this.
Ojttrucker says
What “other things” would a “truckdriver” be doing while a truck drives itself?
Denise says
Was thinking same thought.
Cody says
Eventually the shippers and receivers could dock the trucks to have them completely driver less. They have cars that can parallel park..it wont be long until they have trucks that can bump a dock. Flatbed loads will always need a human, but many flatbed loads (like shingles) dont need to go on a flatbed. If the driver less truck is way cheaper, it will be worth it.
As for snow and ice, we drive in snow and ice. If we can do it, a computer can eventually learn how to, although it will probably drive quite slow.
Louis Bartee says
It was bound to happen. Small companies had the keys to the kingdom and let them slip from their hands.
Paula says
I know what a lot of them will be doing instead of watching the road….
Paul Sommerfeldt says
My wife to be doesn’t really have a clue how trucking industry works and she even says it’s a bad idea and won’t work
John says
Sign me up
Kevin Hil says
I got into this industry because I love to drive, once that is taken away from me there will be no reason for me to stay in the industry.
Jim Nelson says
Well, it may help with safety, but there will be no replacement for the driver within the next 50 to 100 years.
Although we do not like it there will be other jobs created to support these vehicles.
I own a small trucking company and I don’t see a change in the next generation or so.
BUT, have you paid a babysitter lately, yikes
Phil says
Agreed. It’s at least 15-20 years before this is job threatening. My question is this: What job WON’T be eliminated by computers then?
Tony says
My biggest concern with this concept is what happens if the hardware or software fails? An uncontrolled 80k missile at 60mph is not something I want anywhere near my neighborhood.
Denise says
Same thing as a driver who hasn’t slept, has heart attack or high on drugs or alcohol.
vince says
The cost of this technology has got to be expensive. The cost of maintaining this equipment will be expensive and the liability cost will be through the roof I’m guessing…computers are not infallible either, so who are they going g to blame when something goes wrong? The truck or the driver?
They say the driver only needs to take control in an emergency. ….well if the driver isn’t in control of the truck in the first place and constantly engaged in everything around him and what the truck is doing, then it will take that much longer to react to the situation. To me everyone including the driver is putting their lives into the hands of a computer and some cameras! I’m not willing to that!
I have a better rating of consistency then any computer I’ve ever dealt with………
Douglas Kirk says
Look at the bright side: the FMCSA will no longer have a reason to exist. No accidents= no bad companies= no fines= nothing for them to do. I lost my respect for Freightliner over 20yrs ago, now they are trying (again) to help the government kill the transportation business once and for all. I’m only surprised that Swift hasn’t bought Freightliner.
robert says
How would that go crossing border???? Truck virtual driver give all info’s?? They are going too far with this unmaned piece of steel.
They spend money in the wind.
Garry says
Absolutely ridiculous. What happens when radar meets radar? How about when they get disabled by jammers or hijackers? Who gets the blame when a “truck babysitter” fails to respond to an alarm?
See a brain dead bozo behind the wheel, and listen to Wolfgang Bernhard at Daimler say “This will make the job for a driver much more attractive” here:
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/worlds-first-autonomous-truck-goes-operation-n354511
This needs to be stopped. Let Freightliner know what you think.
Garry says
Oh, and one more thing:
Freightliner: America doesn’t want your Dam trucks.
Anthony Thomas says
This is amazing! I don’t think all the “nay” sayers read the article objectively all the way through. The TECH IS AMAZING. and nowhere in the article does it say anything about not needing a driver to fuel, tarp, etc. It is automated but not an AI. It will not pass, and will not deal with emergencies, it simply takes “cruise control” to the next level, but that in itself is something. After all, trains have been unmanned in certain switch tracks for years working this same way, and those trains have yet to be in an accident. They will never replace the driver, and they will never try to. This is simply a step to making a solo driver more useful, not less. Put your pride back in check and appreciate the situation for what it is. Autonomous means it can do for itself, and only in specific instances. Think Knight Rider. KITT was awesome, but without Michael Knight, he wasn’t much better than an RC car that talked.
Dennys says
Wow. Its unreal how this people have become so stupid with the technology. Let’s talk about that company called “swift” the USA biggest and cheapest company out here. How would anyone even listen to what they got to say. Oops that’s right money talks BS walks. Need to listen to real companies out here not them toys. … my opinion won’t work and if it does come out I’m done with trucking. What will be the end of owner operators. ….:(
Steve says
What’s all the hype about? Remember Americas’ space program?Computers controlled every aspect,but a living,thinking astronaut made corrections EACH time the computers failed.And it’s no different with a truck.Freightliners’ beginning was exactly on the mark,a specialized truck for a special job.Too soon it got away from its’ original purpose,becoming & being just “a spoke” in a wheel.It takes a living,breathing,thinking driver in EACH truck,Freightliner, et al,with a steady mind,unwaving skill & presence to compensate for not only machine but human errors as well…
Dan says
Then I should get paid an astronauts wages.
Driver says
A BIG mistake. When one of their trucks kills someone the law will blame the driver…as usual.
Hamburger71 says
It’s a HUGE mistake!
Dan says
Or they’ll put the truck in impound til it gets a court date for it’s license to kill.
frankie says
Look here y”all. This is just wonderful, splendid even. But HELLO! At best what they have here is auto-pilot. Same gadget they have on planes. Great, give the driver some rest while he punches it into auto-drive while on a long stretch of road. Awesome. BUT THAT’S IT FOLKS! It ends there. There will be a need for a human in all other aspects. PERIOD! the day may come when there will be no need for anyone too drive, even 4 wheelers. But that day is at least 50-100 years away. I will be dead by then!
Les_gvt says
and since the driver is only doing half as much work, they will see half as much CPM on their paycheck
me says
What’s the cost of the truck? $700,000 to a $1,000,000. Don’t see many companies lining up to buy them any time soon. Stuff like this is going to hurt the economy even more. With job losses of 50 to 80 million Nationwide. Thing like taxes and cost of living will triple to cover unemployment and welfare. One truck stop after another will close due to no business, garages will close for the same reason. Along with millions of their businesses. And then d.o.t. officers will start getting laid off due to tonic truck they can’t ticket. Then the glass will be shut down due to no human drivers to regulate. The US dot will be down sized to meet smaller budgets from low tax revenue. Other state and local workers will be laid off. The list goes on and on nearly endless in job loss in about every part of america,Canada and Mexico. Are they sure they want let robotic trucks take the place of humans?
Scott k says
So if most Americans are gong to be automated out of a job, who will have any money to buy these goods that are shipped?
Les_gvt says
that is what welfare and a government printing press that never runs out of ink are for
Zac says
Right. Article isn’t being read. This is meant for the long stretches of interstate where road hypnosis is one of our biggest dangers.
Seriously, until that level 4 happens, this is essentially the same autopilot that airline captains have had for years. You’re not going to be using this in city, in the docks, at the fuel station… this is for those times you have to drive through Kansas and there’s nothing but one long stretch of road.
Les_gvt says
and how will it react to a gator in the road or a deer running across the highway?
Phil says
+1
robin says
if it only looks ahead like the diagram showing, then it is ignoring everything else around it. Also, it requires the driver to take over in an emergency so, if the driver is not paying attention to the road because he does not have to… Then the reaction time from reading a book to attention to the emergency situation is delayed.
Paul says
Most people above have valid points. Especially about that a driver who is not 100% involved in the truck’s operation will take too long to get involved and will be useless in an emergency…but he WILL get the blame. I think this all goes to a bigger picture. As Mary Nichols (head of CARB) once said, if all the small trucking companies were gone and replaced by a few giant ones, they would be much easier to regulate. Going to this type of vehicle will help reach this goal. I have 2 trucks and there is no way I will ever buy a piece of s..t like this. Electronic logs, speed limiters, no idle laws, and just a general crapstorm of regulation keeps driving the little guy out of this industry. And the quality of new drivers now days? Despicable…..rude, sloppy, and to them it’s just a paycheck….to me it’s always been about loving what I do.
Karen Ricardo says
All I have to say is “hackers are going to love this one”! I sure wouldn’t want to be the one sitting in the seat when the truck gets hacked.
Tim says
Babies don’t come out of the womb sipping whiskey.
Allison Keesey says
Wow, so it anticipates stupid people? Does it parallel park, dock ect by itself?
Joker says
No has even touched on the unforseen like blowing a steering tire it only takes a second for that to jerk a truck across 4 lanes of traffic, no idol driver can respond fast enough to stop it. What about high winds will it correct itself fast enough between gusts so it doesn’t run some vacationing family off the road.
ALBERT DEDMON says
Don’t you just love it when some J–k A-s sitting on his butt in an office thinks they know how to do our jobs. As if it wasn’t hard enough to learn all the new ideas/rules from bureacrats telling us how to do our work, they want us to do more work other than drive while we sit behind the wheel.
Fatique is caused primarily by the lack of blood circulation to the entire body due to the long hours we sit behind the wheel and this is point in our bodies that the blood flow is restricted at, our butts. This is why we have to get out and walk ten to fifteen minutes after a couple hours of driving. To wake up!
How do they plan to eleviate this problem of fatigue if a driver has to remain behind the wheel doing nothing physical to keep his mind active and his blood circulating? We are not part of the machinery, although we are treated that way by a lot of company dispatchers.
How will the unions who control the majority of big carriers get those trucks to pay dues?
The mind boggles at the vision of things to come.
Bureaucrats
Tom says
TOTAL foolishness.
Corey Jackson says
Oh man! I almost stopped reading when I got to the point where Swift was mentioned. Why would anybody with an ounce of common sense listen to their input? But then again, and I really hate to blast their drivers because most of them are only doing what their “trainers” taught them, but Swift has been employing this technology of driverless trucks for years. Yeah sur3, their trucks do have a human behind the wheel, but I think most of you know what I’m hinting at. Technology is good, but some things just can’t be done by computers and robots.
Tim says
Has no one seen the movie “Maximum Overdrive”? I’m not riding in anything that I don’t have complete control over.
lglavish says
Kinda makes trucking sound boring. I drive because I love to drive. I won’t ever buy an automatic, let alone a Freightliner. Smaller shippers are who I work for, and there are lots of them. Many do not want the big companies hauling their freight. A friend is talking me into heavy haul- this is one more reason to flip my truck and get a new one spec’d for running super size- it’s time to specialize!
Les_gvt says
When you get the thing to dolly down, chock the tires, open the doors and strap up the load- THEN you will impress me
Les_gvt says
only in good weather, daylight hours- so basically it is usable less than 1/3 of the time. I wonder if it will have to to take a break after 14 hours?
sudon't says
Yeah, I’m sure the “driver” will sit there behind the wheel, wide awake, doing nothing, and paying attention the whole way, ready to grab the wheel in an emergency.
On the other hand, I’m all for autonomous trucks, as long as I can lay in the bunk. If that were the case, wouldn’t you feel like you were finally getting paid commensurate with your work?
Terry says
As with all these Autonomous driving devices, where’s the LEGAL liability reside? If this thing screws up, who’s gonna pay out? First time one of these things is at fault for a fatal accident, what happens next? The Programmer?, The driver system Manufacturer?, The Vehicle Manufacturer, The Vehicle Owner?, The Vehicle Driver? Some combination of these? I have not heard anything about who ends up with the legal liability regarding these systems and until that’s sort of resolved, I don’t think these systems will become too widespread. At least I hope not!
dwain says
I understand why swift loves it. I get nervous everyone I’m around one and wondering what stupid thing they fixing to do next.
Ann says
No no no no….it’s only going to take one tiny glitch to kill someone
Hottrod says
More computer junk that costs big bucks to repair. With the low rates anymore, I refused to own a computer injection truck, stayed with my Big Cam 400 Cummins, that truck I bought used, never broke down in the 8 years on the road, still have it. I had a computer injected truck brand new in 1999, computer was nothing but problems from new, I sold the piece of JUNK, lost $4000 and had to file bankruptcy because of it. Therefore, I said NO MORE COMPUTERS.
me says
Can’t wait to see the price tag on one. I bet it’s $500k per truck. And that’s for freighliners cheaply and poorly built glued together truck. Don’t see anyone other the swift buying them. Maybe swift will be able to program the truck to take over when the driver screws up.
Jeffrey Moss says
Im so glad that lm much closer to retirement than l am seeing these trucks simpley destroy the middle class blue collar workers that have done a fine job delivering products for decades. Anyways it will probably break down within the first 60 days like most other freightliners. Lol.
Don says
Perhaps we should be concerned with maintaining these ever more complex vehicles. As it stands now, we need a computer to (maybe) tell us what is wrong with the pro stars and Cascadia. Due to their complexity and design flaws, many of these newer trucks have ongoing issues that have no resolution.
I have two questions :
1. Who is going to maintain these robot trucks ensuring that they are in top operating condition?
2. Given the current flaws in design, how many flaws in design will result in fatalities on the highway?
Our commitment, as a society, to excellence and quality production continue to decline. Now they want us to entrust our lives to robot trucks?
rufus says
Ironic how they used Hoover Dam as a backdrop. An enduring symbol of human labor. More jobs lost to automation. When is it going to be figured out that machines dont create a nation,people do.
trees says
Hey that’s great. Pretty soon, with automation, none of us will have a job…..
James says
Article mentions relieving driver fatigue. If the truck requires a driver in the seat how does that relieve fatigue? At least when the driver has control over the steering braking and acceleration they are paying attention. How long before one of the drivers figures it is safe to step into the bunk to get a snack and an emergency happens?
Scott says
Oh yeah and the computer driver knows how to yield to emergency vehicles and where to park when pulled over. Knows where to drive in the port of entry and which lane.
If you replace a few million truck drivers with computers the economy will get wrecked.
Charles Irvin says
The way I see it…
Trucking companies don’t care about drivers.
Truck stops don’t care about drivers.
The government doesn’t care about truck drivers.
The general public doesn’t care about truck drivers.
So, why have truck drivers at all?
I can do other things for a living.
Let them eliminate truck drivers, and then find somebody else to blame the next time there’s a 300+ vehicle pile up.
Infra_red says
In another article on this, JB Hunt was quoted as saying this could help with the driver shortage but couldn’t be reached for further comment. I saw an article on this coming a year ago and decided to go back to school. The writing is on the wall, and for all of you who think that they don’t have the tech to have these things alley dock, think again. All they have to do is reverse the control commands that are already on use in cars that automatically parallel park themselves and add sensors to the trailer. It is actually much easier in most cases to dock than to parallel. Also don’t forget that this truck is using tweaked available tech. The article I read a year ago didn’t even involve Freightshaker but did involve Google and other truck manufacturers who have more advanced technologies. JB and Swift will quietly push legislation to get these trucks road legal across the states as soon as possible. Be prepared for a drop in wages my friends.
Macgyver says
Some years back, when most of the interstates in Michigan were asphalt, One could do something very similar. I was actually trying to disprove a rumor…
I heard tell of setting the cruise and let the truck go down the ruts, it wouldn’t come out. I actually drove with the cruise on, and let go the wheel and let the rig ride in the ruts from Lansing to Detroit. It even followed the curves. Other drivers were actually laughing when they would come up on me and look, I had my arms crossed on my chest. I would look over at them and shrug. The chatter on the CB was interesting, to say the least.
On a more practical note, the big idiot government should have long since mandated magnetic strips in a truck lane on every interstate to do exactly what this so-called “new tech” is doing. A simple radar and sonar looking ahead to the next vehicle, and follow the strip. But nooooo, we have to put a zillion bucks in electronics in so they can line their pockets.
This does not impress me, except to say that the old saw about how many politicians and committees it takes to change a light bulb is definitely up and running in full force.
It would be nice if things were built to be Bubba-proof instead of prone to failure. Keep It Simple, Stupid.