Worried about the future. What to do?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by KingRichez, Oct 1, 2019.

  1. 88228822

    88228822 Heavy Load Member

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    when the founders sell their company for billions, they will be laughing all the way to the bank...
     
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  3. KingRichez

    KingRichez Bobtail Member

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    Fully autonomous tech could add at least $100,000 to the price of a vehicle, while even semi-autonomous features like Tesla's Autopilot and Cadillac's Super Cruise already add $5,000 and $10,000, respectively, to the base vehicle cost.
    upload_2019-10-5_6-41-31.png
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    So, pretty much it'll cost less than having a driver the first year and then after that it's nothing but profits $$$. No wages, no health insurance, fuel saving, no workers comp, no down time, no vacation time. Hell, they'll probably break even in 9 months because it can run more loads. 100,000 is nothing to a company.
     

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  4. 88228822

    88228822 Heavy Load Member

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    They don't care about any of that. They care about taking the company public or selling the company for billions. Amazon is twice as large as Walmart by market cap and afaik they didn't make money for years (I might be wrong). Lots of companies don't have great earnings they are trying to run up the value of the company to get rich quick(or become the next Bezos). I'm not a businessman so maybe someone else can explain this better.

    The fact is that if I'm costing the company $100,000 per year with wages and benefits and other costs, it will be more profitable for the company to get rid of me in the long run. This is unavoidable. Under capitalism, hiring more workers (or paying them more or paying them well) is a COURSE OF LAST RESORT. They will avoid it as much as possible.

    Silicon Valley venture capital doesn't give a flying #### about the short term economics. They are swinging for the fences. AND THEY ARE SMARTER THAN US IN THAT WAY. I'd still rather be me than them though.
     
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  5. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    If it is 2025, worry about it. Yet there will always be people whom prefer to drive.
     
  6. KingRichez

    KingRichez Bobtail Member

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    That's a good point as well. The worker is a liability to the company day one. This would be an asset that pays and keeps on paying. And honestly I'd do the same if I was a company. I wouldn't want to be the only sucker on the block without a new toy like everybody else and trying to figure why my business is sinking. Nobody cares that the driver will go homeless or has kids, lol, there's already homelessness, lol nobody gives a ####! And the way they're marketing this, "costing billions of dollars caused by human error", yeah, they got this. So, I'm guessing tree huggers are with it because of emissions, safety conscious people are with it, it's creating more jobs for techies so they're with it, apparently drivers are with it because they got their butts in the seat for .1 cents a mile lol; who isn't with it? Nobody.
     
  7. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    Only 3,999,995 driverless rigs to go and we're all out of work.
    No one doubts the technology is being developed and tested currently, but to worry about entering the industry?
    I was looking for work when I found this job.
    Original poster should look into autonomous support positions for ease of mind if your choice today has you worried about tomorrow.
     
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  8. KingRichez

    KingRichez Bobtail Member

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    All it'll take is 1,250,000 trucks and and rates would start to plummet. Loads that were $2.6 would be $2.0 because would be more flexible in taking lower paying loads. Then when you get 2,000,000, they'll go even lower till it's not worth being OTR.
     
  9. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    What's your point?
    You asked what would be my plan.
    Truckload freight going across the country will be the focus.
    The cost of transportation will not decrease the price to consumers despite perceived cost reduction from point A to B. It will simply shift labor to support positions.
    I'd bet 50% of otr would welcome the opportunity to work and be home for the same pay.
    And I know I for one wouldn't take a pay cut.
     
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  10. KingRichez

    KingRichez Bobtail Member

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    My point is that the job market isn't looking so good, not only for trucking but for other jobs and nobody seems to care. Look what happened to cab drivers, and it all happened over night it seems and people don't care as long as they to where they need to go cheaper. It's good to have a plan B or an exit strategy.
     
  11. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    Can't stop progress.
    Find a niche that can't be automated and you're golden.
     
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