Driven by potential cost savings and a debilitating driver shortage, truck platooning appears to be quickly moving off of the drawing board in the U.S. and on to the country’s highways.
Next-generation technologies allow freight carriers to take advantage of multiple tractor-trailers operating under a single driver and guidance system. Although trucking industry insiders see these and other seemingly driverless approaches as a threat to steady employment and reasonably high salaries, such efforts have yet to move away from human oversight. Platooning has already taken hold in European countries such as Sweden and the U.K. that are also experiencing a need for more qualified CDL-holders.
By leveraging Smart technology, freight-hauling outfits can position two or more vehicles in close proximity. These trucks are synched together with support systems that, theoretically, enhance their ability to brake, accelerate, or negotiate rugged landscapes in unison.
Proponents of both human-led and driverless platooning put forward what they see as the benefits of the system. Some point to reduce fuel usage because drafting may occur. For those who are neither NASCAR fans nor experienced OTR truckers, drafting involves an aerodynamic technique of reducing air friction that results from trailing closely behind another vehicle. Some call this commonly employed racing strategy “slipstreaming” as well.
Advocates of platooning also point to potential reductions in diesel use as an environmentally sustainable benefit. They claim that that aligning several tractor-trailers in a closely-knit convoy may improve highway safety, as well. Whether these somewhat theoretical benefits translate to on-road realities or not, few would disagree autonomous platooning could help close the skyrocketing truck driver shortage gap. To that end, the federal government allowed its first platooning trial in 2018, and further review is anticipated.
“Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), FHWA is managing the Truck Platooning Early Deployment Assessment project to understand how truck platoons will operate in a realistic, operational environment,” the DOT website indicates. “This project will assess various aspects of in-service truck platoons that deliver commercial goods by a fleet operator on their common delivery routes over an extended period. Previous research resulted in the development of truck platooning technology with only limited testing and demonstration in a real-world environment.”
According to reports, the U.S. Department of Transportation continues to weigh the economic benefits against the safety implications of having one person effectively operate multiple trucks carrying full loads. Freight outfits may be champing at the bit to reduce their payrolls once autonomous technologies meet safety standards. This does not necessarily mean hard-working truck drivers should worry about job security. The trucker shortage could reach 160,000 in the coming years, and someone has to lead these platoons. It’s entirely likely qualified CDL professionals could negotiate higher salaries as freight-haulers improve their profits.
Source: trucks.com, enterpriseiotinsights.com
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