End of the road for truckers?

Not to mention the liability involved with driverless vehicles.
That 10K lb. gorilla in the room is still being ignored.

 

I think they will probably end up moving to some kind of pod system,.. or some other kind of integrated securement system where it can be locked down like a container or where sensors can determine if chassis flex allowed a strap or chain to become loose and it can then tighten it automatically. This would be for bricks n sticks types of loads. Maybe even steel and lumber too.

Large machinery, equipment etc will probably still need a hands on approach for some time to come. I imagine the military will be the first to dumb down the transport of those things. From there it will trickle back to civilian/commercial usage.

hurst

 

I like the Tesla that slams into the construction barrier in Texas. That's pretty cool. I hope his insurance didn't go up since he wasn't driving when it wrecked.

 

@tucker

if your system allows it, log it on duty then edit it back to break instead to the truck accidentally moving and tripping the drive time from off duty.

 

It won’t let us edit onduty time either
Maybe it was a fluke, but I usually log 5 to 10 minutes for loading and then go off duty for 30 minutes to get my break in.
It usually takes less than 15 minutes total at the shipper.

 

Depends how old you are. If you still have time to get another career go for it. This is one of the MANY reasons that made me think about leaving...

Wether the autonomous trucks come in a decade or 3 from now... Again, depending on how old you are.. this job isn't worth it.

Good luck with your choice. Remember there was naysayers about the train, and automobiles and planes... They were all proven wrong..

 

That pretty much says it all right there. There are much better jobs out there now. Trucking should be the very last and most desperate choice for a person now.

The DOT, FMCSA, Shippers,Receivers, Insurance companies, Congress, Brokers,Carriers and the public are all against a driver now.

 

Yup. Killing yourself for 48-63k a year is not worth it. If the pay in this job would've kept up with inflation.. we would be making 85k to start... Imagine all you guys out there with 10,20,30 years experience... Would be making North of 120k no problem.

Compare for yourself... What year did you start driving and how much it is in today's dollars.. best case scenario you're making the same.. (doubt it)

US Inflation Calculator

 

I wish I wouldn't have used your calculator , I put in numbers I still had in memory from the mid nineties and your 120k plus number is pretty accurate just a bit low .
Now I'm really disgusted

 

And I pulled those #s out of my behind...
Welcome to the necessary, but sad state of awareness/being awake.

While ignorance may be bliss I prefer to be aware so I can make better decisions.

Sorry for the bubble burst but it was necessary