Article: Self driving trucks by end of 2020

So, the loss of income tax revenue will be less than the fees put on each vehicle...?
Give and take.. and if that results in the cost to truck being higher...than where did that roi go?

 

I understand the tech and how it works.

But a computer can NOT compensate for a violent increase in wind speed on an icy road, any more than a human can. Don’t believe me? YouTube is full of videos of passengers slamming the roof of an airplane during turbulence. I’ve seen trailers blown over in a parking lot. How is that automated truck going to compensate for that?

They will be what is referred to as Fair Weather drivers. Safety will mandate it.

Real drivers need not be concerned.

 

I'm not sure which is more frustrating the idiots on TV and radio trying to out panic the other people talking about climate change or the "journalists" trying to print the earliest date possible for a robot truck. If we have learned anything about the media, we know accuracy is their highest priority.

 

Oh I know it's going to happen, all in the interest of a dollar it's going to happen. I'm also saying that the first time one of these autonomous, driverless, whatever you call it, trucks kills somebody there will be a lawsuit the likes of which has rarely been seen, I'm talking hundreds of millions, against the truck company and the manufacturer. How we haven't heard of massive lawsuits against Boeing over their planes flying themselves into the ground lately due to this very thing I don't understand, maybe it's just a little too soon after the fact.

 

"states are looking for more revenue, they will allow them to happen in return a fee per truck will be taken"

Bingo
Savings will be eaten away by tax and fees

 

I hope it happens. I’ll sit at home all day collecting unemployment. Then I’ll campaign for Andrew Yang to be president. When that happens my wife and I will get 2k a month. Then I’ll go to work at McDonalds and make a great living.

 

Not to mention the half a million plus former drivers that are now collecting unemployment and other welfare bennies.

 

They still haven’t perfected a truck that a driver drives ... what makes one driven by a computer glitch free... Also Airplanes have multiple back up systems and still use a pilot running through wide open skies ...

 

Here is how I think it will play out.


First when these trucks are ready to hit the road this is how I will do it.


1. Stop all CDL’s being issued

2. Gradually allow tractors that have remote drivers to compensate for shortages. Mandated pay will equal to current national averages for Fleet drivers or O/O’s, meaning even O/O’s can remote drive

3. As more drivers exit the field more driverless trucks can enter.

4. As these trucks get smarter and smarter gradually decrease the drivers required per truck. This means 1 O/O can run multiple trucks as well. Giving competition to the Mega fleets.

5. Slowly remove mandated pay and let competition commence once again.

6. When system is close to perfection and drivers are no longer needed, the states can now tax each tractor accordingly. As the infrastructure grows, states will make up the loss of revenue from driverless tractors.

Example a company pays each driver 50k on average, that driver pays maybe 2-3 grand in taxes.

The company itself will then have to pay the 2-3k per truck in lost taxes on top of the current IFTA fees.


Still cheaper then having a driver for companies.


But here is the downside.

Brokers will be out of a job

Shippers might start doing their own loads bypassing brokers and Mega’s all together.

A whole new industry will be born, road side services, last mile drivers, parking lots that cater to driverless trucks.



@Rubber duck kw as far as lawsuits, the gooberment will pass legislation that will not allow that to happen as laws like these exist for other industries.


The plan I stated will just allow current drivers to be driven maybe retire and or be driven off the job completely.

 

Now that you mention it, self wiping toilets would be an awesome invention