Big fleets and Elon Musk are once again talking “driver shortage,” and DOT has been quietly clearing the way for automation for years.
The article cites human drivers’ HOS limitations, the rising cost of diesel, and yes an “acute driver shortage” reported from businesses as powering self-driving’s growth.
Aurora has 200 self-driving trucks on the road in Texas, Volvo plans 300, and Amazon, Pepsi and Walmart all have pilot programs going.
In the American Transportation Research Institute's most recent annual Top Industry Issues report, big fleets once again listed the “driver shortage” as a top concern.
In addition to individuals like Jonathan Wood, who took his message that human drivers should be required in autonomous trucks to Congress, autonomous trucks were company drivers' No.