Future in Trucking

The only "true shortage" of drivers are true professional drivers. Trucking companies main goal is to cut each other s throat to get a Fortune 500 business contract for less. Also with new FMSCA regulations and new medical qualification guidelines, more drivers are hanging it up on their own terms or being forced out. As far as driverless truck, that s just a random thought thrown out on the table and a very expensive one as well. Could you imagine programming these trucks to go from point A to point B, avoiding low clearances, restricted routes, and toll roads, etc? Trucking companies will always and forever will be hiring drivers, especially newer ones. Their revenue per mile is far cheaper than a driver who s been there 20 yrs. Also a lot of people cannot handle being away from home for a few weeks at a time, especially with a family

 

Dont be so sure the "driverless" route is just an ATA pipe dream. The technology already exists. Google already has driverless cars on the road (public roads) in CA, NV, and FL. Airplanes have been flying themselves, not to mention landing themselves, for years. With gps routing and satnav, it would be easy to "program" these vehicles to get from A to B on any roads the owner wanted.

I'm 34 and figure I have at least 30 years until retirement. I would be shocked if I'm able to make it to retirement as a driver.

 

A "good driver" with a strong work ethic and a clean record will always have a trade to pursue. But every year that goes by, prepare for a job that becomes more and more difficult on multiple levels as traffic density continues to increase and there are certain people in high places who have this bizarre notion the US can have "zero transportation related deaths" in the future. The scary thing is they will never achieve this but not for lack of trying and creating more problems and hassles in a never-ending rollout of new rules and regs and enforcement agencies.

 

Driverless may work for a dry-van running I-10.

I'd like to see a driverless truck handle getting into mines or quarries on a muddy day.

 

My "two cents"...; it's going to be a long road...but "automated digital systems" are already "out there", they are being tested and awaiting regulations and Legislation. "Big truck" units with artificial intelligence are being tested as you read this post. First aircraft with the same technology have been flying since the late 60's. Road trains on mayor Interstate highways are now being considered. Local and regional delivery driver jobs are going to be the best to be in for the next 10 yrs. Present status of our economy and fuel prices...will make it hard for big companies to have good pay for "New drivers"...(small O/Op's with 10 to 20 trucks will be able to survive....if they negotiate good contracts with Local companies.)**also hard to battle with big companies with a few thousand trucks and double and triple the amounts of Trailers scattered all over the nation. All of these reasons and a few more were the motivation for "hanging the driver hat", and became a flight instructor for small aircraft. For those of you that are making the transition from military service, aviation is now included and available as an alternative for re-training and a change of profession.