Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/522363
PULSE June 2015 | Overdrive | 5 By Max Heine Editorial director mheine@randallreilly.com T he debut of the highly impressive Freightliner Inspiration, the indus- try's fi rst road-legal autonomous truck, raises many questions about what's next. For professional drivers, the biggest one has been job security. For Level 3 autonomous vehicles such as the Inspiration, a driver is required behind the wheel. When there is a need for changing lanes, parking or other circumstances that require common sense and quick judgment, the truck screams for help and turns it over to the driver. That driver needs the same level of experience as today's operators. There are many developments yet to come before we see a safe network of Level 3 vehicles: regulations, highway infrastructure and integration of autonomous technology in other vehicles. Even as these things evolve, we're still dealing with technology that re- quires drivers behind the wheels. To take trucks to Level 4, essentially the robot or driverless level in the classifi cation proposed by the National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration, probably will require not just years, but decades, with the possi- ble exception of trucks platooning behind a manned lead truck. By the time Level 4 trucks hit the road, Level 4 cars probably will be old news. Add in the demand for drivers, and it appears there's no need to worry that auton- omous technology poses a threat to driving jobs. The American Trucking Associations estimates a current shortage of 35,000 to 40,000 drivers that only will get worse. Though autonomous trucking appears to pose no threat to driver demand and prom- ises signifi cant safety and fuel economy im- provements, there's a more personal aspect that is troubling. That's the humiliation that comes when a person's critical job functions get delegated to technology. Part of the spin on the autonomous driving job environment is that it will reduce fatigue and provide free time to handle tasks such as booking loads or planning stops. But really, how much time on any given day is needed to handle communication? Or to "rest" when you aren't allowed to sleep? Our industry has spent years on the hard sell that safe driving is truly a skilled pro- fession. Anyone having more than a passing familiarity with trucking knows that's true. So it's sad to imagine a day when the long-haul driver becomes more akin to cartoon buff oon Homer Simpson, whose job is to watch gauges at the power plant, interven- ing only when problems arise. Level 3 driving regulations require that drivers stay awake, but once such trucks and four-wheelers become widespread, I'll be surprised if we don't hear countless tales of drivers nodding off from profound boredom. Respecting skills and in a few years, all trucks will be. That will make a big speed diff erential – smart thinking." And Derry Nelson, via Overdrive's Facebook page: "I think 70-75 is fast enough! We all notice the higher you post the speed limit, the faster the crazies are out here. If you post the speed to 80, you'll have people doing 90-100 mph." Whether the speed-govern- ing mandate happens or not, many operators will continue to run well below any 75 mph or higher speed limit for a variety of reasons, whether out of concern for safety or a desire for better fuel effi cien- cy, which Esparza also noted in his op-ed. As one commenter, post- ing only as "Shaun" under the South Dakota story, put it: "68-70 gets me around just fi ne. No hassles with the cops, fuel economy doesn't take too big a hit, and tire problems aren't a factor." More voices via Overdrive's Facebook page: Michael Pfi stner: It's a lot eas- ier to raise the speed limit than raise the fuel tax. The roads aren't any safer than 5, 10, 15 years ago. Cars are a little safer in general, but it's all about the $$$. Lioubov Tchepiakova: We are driving 65 by choice, going to 70 to pass. There is no reason to go any faster in the truck. Larry J. St. John: Faster you go, the more fuel you use. The faster the speed, the bigger the wreck. Worked for an outfi t for years limited to 68. Never bothered me a bit. Ken Lowe: My rig runs the best at 70 and gets the best mile- age. And I run quality retreads. Hitting a switch is all it takes for a driver to turn the Inspiration's control over to the Highway Pilot system.