The Benefits Of Self-Driving Trucks

Self driving vehicles is a huge change in our society. We are taking the next step into the future and creating something bigger than ever. Driverless cars can be a good thing and a bad thing in todays society. We depend on so many things now, the older we get and the more time goes on, the lazier we get. Being Americans, we are putting our thoughts and ideas to the ultimate test to create something so dangerous but so efficient. We have thought of ideas that would make our lives "easier" and less stressful. In this paper I will describe how driverless cars work, the current problems and setbacks that we are having, and how this new technology is being put to use today.

Right now self-driving cars and trucks are hitting the road and will soon be available to the general market . Major companies like Google, Tesla, Uber and Delphi are leading in autonomous cars industry. In the past few years, these companies have made great strides improving this technology. Addressing the concerns for this technology must be concluded before it reaches the general public. Given the current state of automobiles that don’t need drivers the American consumer needs to be mindful that moral decisions this technology is handling puts them at risk due to the fact that this is emerging technology, laws are being made that will shape this technology, and who is choosing who lives and who dies.

“Self-Driving Trucks May Be Closer Than They Appear” article was written by New York Times journalist Conor Dougherty. The article basis was about the recent invention of the self driving car also known as the Tesla and how self driving trucks were starting to make an appearance in the self driving car industry because of the benefits it would have. Quoted in the article, “Trucking is a $700 billion industry that touches every corner of the economy. Trucks haul natural resources from mines to forests.” (Dougherty) Many more reasons are stated in the article about the vast use of trucks for transportation in the article. It also states the worldwide benefit of having self-driving trucks in the economy.

Think about getting into your car to go on vacation. You have everything pacted, hop in, and get ready to watch a movie. This is starting to become a reality in the coming years. More and more industries are starting to dump millions of dollars into invoicing a safe, self driving vehicle. However, is this really a positive step with the innovation of transportation.Transportation with technology is evolving with us everyday. Self Driving cars are one of the new forms of technology. Driverless cars are beginning to enter the roadway currently. National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations Joan Claybrook, believes that it will take between 10-30 years before driverless cars are good enough to be fully administered on the roadway (Greenhouse).

Now, consider how automation will affect shipping and the truck driving industry. There are 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States according to the American Trucker Association. Last May, the first self-driving truck had a successful test in Nevada. This truck was built by a a company called Freightliner, which has said that their trucks are beginning a 10-year testing phase before determining whether the technology is ready for widespread adoption. These drivers make a solid middle-class income of roughly $40,000 per

A new technology is approaching, and it may change the world forever. Imagine a planet where traffic does not exist and there are no more drunk drivers on the roads putting people’s lives in danger. With the invention of self-driving cars, this dream world can be made into reality. A self-driving car is exactly what it sounds like, a car that operates on its own without a human driver. They have raised many controversies as to whether this invention is good or bad. Many people believe that self-driving cars are a threat to humanity, but it is the complete opposite. Self- Driving Cars will have a positive impact on society for many different reasons.

The rapid advancement in technology is beneficial and detrimental. As a current undergraduate student it is scary to see how technology has eliminated or replaced countless jobs. At the rate we are going many jobs will be replaced by a machine. The articles examines how self-driving vehicles will affect the overall economy. I always believed that self-driving was a thing of the future and this article has changed my perspective because it is now closer than ever. The pros of a self-driving truck is that they will able to drive 24 hours which means goods will be delivered at a quicker rate and stipulate the labor force. Having employees come with a major cost such as salaries, health coverage, etc. In the perspective of a business owner, reducing

For decades the thought of a car that could drive itself has been a model of the future, but now, that model is becoming a reality. The potential benefits of adding an autonomous vehicle (AV) to the roadways are limitless, they span from improved safety to the convenience and luxury of the driver. Companies have already gained the right to test their cars in certain states. Once proven safe, the public will slowly but surely integrate autonomous vehicles into their lives. Autonomous cars will be a substantial benefit to society because they improve automobile safety, efficiency, and the overall convenience of the vehicle.

On the other hand with the more efficient computer replacing humans, the amount of people unemployed will go up. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 1.7 million trucking jobs in the U.S. (2) Although autonomous trucks will not fully replace drivers right away for safety purposes many companies are looking forward to not having to pay drivers in the future. Another issue that they are finding with the autonomous trucks is their responses to mechanical problems like a flat tire or a weather

Safety is a big part of self driving cars. But with the technology we have now and what we have coming is huge in safety. Proponents say autonomous driving would reduce the number of people killed in traffic accidents. Last year, with nearly 40,000 auto-related deaths in the United States, was the deadliest since 2008. All those deaths were without self driving cars. “State and local governments also have complementary responsibilities and should work with the federal government to achieve and maintain our status as world leaders in innovation,?” said David Strickland, general counsel for the trade group, Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets. Also self driving cars will be “driven” by satellites. Self-driving cars can also help disabled and elderly people get from place to place on their own. It is also safer for elderly people. The company has been grappling with the fallout from the death in May of a Florida driver who had the car’s Autopilot on. However the tech isn’t advanced enough yet. Self driving cars is nothing to push, and rush

If the Trucks were to become self-driving, the following changes would happen. Truck Lease and maintenance will increase due to the increased cost of the truck. The driver based cost could be reduced but not eliminated due to the additional roles the driver has to accomplish, which will require an additional system of support to replace the driver. Considering that a driver’s wage averages $17.6 an hour (W Forrd Torrey, IV, 2014), it is very unclear the use of self-driving trucks can deliver a reduction in cost that would make the investment worthwhile.

"The incredible success of this pilot shipment is an example of what is possible when you deploy self-driving technology," Lior Ron, the co-founder of Otto, said. That's not to say there wasn't someone on board for the 120-mile trip. A driver was on hand to help get the truck on and off the interstate. Anheuser-Busch says it could save as much as $50 million each year in the U.S. using self-driving vehicles for distribution.

In recent discussions of growing technology, a controversial issue has been whether we are ready for the advancements of driverless vehicles. On the one hand, some argue that these advancements have already proven that we are ready. On the other hand, however, others argue that we need to have more experience with the technology before we can be ready. In sum, then, the issue is are we ready or not for driver-less cars. While others think that driverless vehicles can’t be trusted yet without a commission to help lawmakers with regulating the vehicles and government officials that know more about this technology to better watch over it, I believe that we are ready for this new evolving automobile because driverless vehicles already has too much potential beginning with its self-automated breaking system and warnings.

Advanced technology is affecting the truck driving world. Employers are trying to keep their drivers safe out there on the road. In Spencer article “OOIDA FMCSA Electronic-Log Mandate Will Have Negative Impact” he talks about how an electronic log will have a negative impact on truck drivers and law officers. In 2016 technology has gotten more advanced. Marco dells Cava wrote an article about “Self-driving truck makes first trip – a 120-mile beer run.” Something like this could change the world. Jim Barnett, who has been working in this profession off and on for 20+ years, talks about how it can be dangerous for self-driving trucks (Personal Interview). In Sarah Zhang article “Self-driving Trucks Are Going to Kill Jobs, and Not Just for Drivers,” writes how this will have an impact on the economy. It will have an effect on business that truck drivers stop at on a day to day basis. Self-driving trucks will have a negative impact on the economy.

Highway Administration, the average American driver drives almost 40 miles every day (FHA, 2011). Given how heavily vehicles are used today, especially in the United States, their replacement with autonomous vehicles could easily have far-reaching implications.