Truck drivers out of work?
Truck drivers out of work? There is a shortage.
First they are talking about alternative propulsion methods here, this is separate from what I believe your speaking to with autonomous driving.
I work for and have worked for the trucking industry for 2 decades. The quality of drivers have declined sharply due to the increase in demand for them and stricter government regulations. I see drivers DAILY, that I would not drive beside if they were in their personal vehicles much less in a semi truck. These would dramatically increase road safety, traffic, environmental impacts and the economy. Every new technology development brings with it new jobs and opportunities. Even if semi trucks were to go autonomous, the government would regulate that a human be involved somewhere in the process, as well as the jobs created in servicing, supporting and infrastructure for the new technology. This would offset the job loss of a truck driver "steering wheel holder" with higher paying jobs as well as entry level jobs that would support this tech. Sure the typical truck driver as we know them today would not exist but they could become dispatchers that would monitor and run the individual trucks to monitor them and even a group of them. So to say that this would make truck drivers lose their jobs is a bit premature and unfair, but IMHO, in my experience and even from the mouths of current truck drivers, the overwhelming majority would welcome this change as it would allow for less time on the road and a better quality of life for the "drivers" and their family. Drivers currently spend 10 hours on the road and up to 14 hours total between driving and working, and to think that companies still don't find "loopholes" to work drivers longer is naive. Also, truck drivers in most of the trucking industry are not paid overtime until on average past 50-55 hours a week. This in and of it self tells you the amount of "expected" hours companies put on them.