What Is Autonomous Trucking?

[The trucking industry has its sights set on a driverless future.]

Autonomous trucking is a term used to describe self-driving tractor-trailers that transport goods. The aim of autonomous trucking is to one day get big rigs and delivery trucks, and the things they carry, from point A to point B without human intervention.

What Is Autonomous Trucking?

Autonomous trucking refers to tractor-trailers that can operate without any human guidance. This is accomplished through a combination of AI technology, GPS systems and software that enable trucks to navigate highway environments on their own.

Today, autonomous trucks are traveling on roadways in various parts of the United States, like the Southwest, at a limited capacity, often with a safety driver on board to take control if anything were to go haywire.

Autonomous trucking is when tractor-trailers are able to operate without the need for human intervention. Relying on sensors, cameras, GPS satellites, IoT systems and AI technologies, these autonomous trucks can safely traverse highways entirely on their own.

While there are no trucks that are fully autonomous as of right now, companies are testing self-driving trucks with varying degrees of autonomy. A human driver may be positioned in an autonomous truck in case something happens, or a human-driven truck may lead a group of autonomous trucks.

How Do Autonomous Trucks Work?

Autonomous trucks work by using sensing technologies like LiDAR (a sensing technology that uses light to determine distance), radar and optical cameras to gather visual data from the surrounding area, delivering that information to a computer loaded with maps and algorithms that analyzes the information and makes decisions. It’s not too different from how a brain uses what a human eye feeds it to decide when it’s safe to change lanes or make a left turn.

Like other self-driving vehicles, software is the key to autonomous trucking. As a result, most autonomous truck companies aren’t actually manufacturing trucks, they’re writing the code that integrates artificial intelligence with all the sensors, maps, algorithms and other perception tools needed for trucks to forgo human drivers.

When Will Autonomous Trucks Be a Reality?

While autonomous trucks are a reality, they’re not the norm. Not yet, anyway.

Challenges and Barriers of Autonomous Trucks

1- Getting On and Off Highways

In complex conditions such as ports, the presence of a human driver is likely necessary.

2- Road Conditions

The performance of autonomous trucks in adverse weather (e.g., heavy snow) or their response to sudden accidents remains uncertain.

3- Regulations:

Federal laws in the U.S. have yet to establish clear standards for driverless vehicles. Additionally, differing regulations between states make long-haul transportation challenging.

4- Human Pushback

Concerns over driver unemployment and public distrust in AI technology are major barriers.

Will Autonomous Trucks Replace Drivers?

To some degree, autonomous trucks could replace drivers, but there’s already a sizable shortage in the labor market, which is constraining the supply chain as it is. Instead, Instead, it can be said that autonomous trucks as improving the quality of life of drivers and making the job more enjoyable.

Will Autonomous Trucks Replace Air Freight?

Autonomous trucks, with their 24/7 operational capability and ability to reduce cargo transit time from several days to just one day, could become a formidable competitor to air freight. This transformation would lower companies’ operational costs and reduce the need for large warehouses.

Autonomous Trucking Companies

When it comes to a driverless future in the trucking industry, these autonomous truck companies appear to be in it for the long haul.

Autonomous Truck Companies to Know

TuSimple
Embark
Kodiak Robotics
Einride
Gatik
Aurora
Torc Robotics
Waabi