Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/649008
36 | Overdrive | March 2016 BY JAMES JAILLET MEET THE PILOT-MONITOR, MASTER OF THE AUTONOMOUS TRUCK L ike it or not, tractor- trailer operation will continue to migrate to automated control over the next 20 to 30 years. Automation already has proven capable of replacing basic tasks such as changing speeds, braking and steering. It potentially also will take over more complex tasks such as changing lanes and exiting highways. Where does that leave drivers? The com- mon concern among truck operators is that they themselves won't be needed. That refrain, however, likely is ungrounded, according to those who study trucking's evolving technology. Drivers' jobs will become like that of airline pilots, not only watching the vehicle but also closely overseeing a variety of sophisticated systems. This includes monitoring diagnostics and telematics systems, optimizing rout- ing, communicating with other truck operators to form platoons and han- dling some dispatch and load-finding responsibilities. Relieved of the constant duties of steering and maintaining speed in long- haul situations, owner-operators will find time to handle many non-driving duties while en route instead of only during downtime. These would include communications, negotiating loads and other administrative tasks, says Mike Roeth, director of the North American Council on Freight Efficiency. Such efficiency gains could lead to a better quality of life and a more profit- able business, says Fred Andersky of Bendix, a leader in advanced braking and collision avoidance technology. "An owner-operator has to be a busi- nessman, a technician, a skilled driver, a salesperson – all of those things are still going to be important in the future," Andersky says. The coming technology changes, he says, will simply help them "be more productive and more relaxed." Drivers of the future may be more like truck "managers," tasked with overseeing an expanding array of systems and ensuring trucks are operating as efficiently as possible. TOMORROW • Technical innovations will replace many routine driving tasks that truckers perform today. • Truck operators will be younger, equipped with skills not only in driving but also in monitoring diagnostics and telematics systems. • Free time created by autonomous driving will enhance productivity, especially for independents with many non-driving duties. REINVENTING THE OWNER-OPERATOR