Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are now a modern breakthrough in the logistics and transportation sector. AVs are now in use throughout the United States, from robotaxi services to driverless delivery pods.
Data from the American Trucking Association (ATA) indicates that to meet the increasing demands of freight, the transportation industry will require over 1.2 million additional drivers over the next ten years. However, forecasts indicate that by 2030, there may be a nationwide driver shortage.
AVs are ideally positioned to supplement the current driver workforce, not to replace it. They address long-standing grievances in the business. Moreover, they help provide solutions that increase driver safety and help make driving positions more appealing. This, in turn, allows drivers to have more regular schedules and spend more time at home.
As autonomous car testing progresses, professional drivers must remain at the forefront of the discussion. For this to succeed, drivers’ opinions on the technology and their assistance in confirming its efficacy on the road must be regularly solicited.
How Autonomous Trucks Are Already Improving Safety and Success
Autonomous technologies—such as collision avoidance systems, automated emergency braking, and advanced driver assistance—are already widely used to improve safety results. They aid in the detection of potential collisions or other events, alerting the driver to prospective hazards, and even assisting in the maintenance of vehicle control and brakes.
Automated technology has been shown to assist in minimizing traffic crashes and increase road safety. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that autonomous emergency braking might avert more than 19,000 crashes, 8,800 injuries, and 155 deaths per year. Furthermore, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety discovered in 2020 that forward-collision warning and autonomous emergency braking technologies cut rear-end crashes by 44% and 41%, respectively.
Several pieces of Trucker News suggest that the industry has significantly benefited from testing and certifying these technologies, and they will continue to evolve as we learn more about what is required to support drivers.
Enhancing the processes of transportation
It’s essential to understand how these technological developments go beyond individual drivers and are critical to transforming more general transportation procedures like logistics management, e-commerce integration, and data analytics’s critical role in decision-making.
1. Integration of e-commerce
These days, trucking businesses use state-of-the-art software to process orders, which helps them run more efficiently. They automate a number of procedures, including order processing, route optimization, and inventory control. This reduces resource waste and ensures that goods reach their destinations on schedule.
2. Platooning
Platooning employs a “follow the leader” method to automate cars in a convoy formation. This approach involves two (or more) trucks driving in a line. The first truck is operated by a human driver. Although earlier tests included a human in the next truck, in the ultimate manifestation of this technology, the successive trucks are not staffed by humans at all. They just follow the lead truck, using sensors and cloud-based communications to keep the appropriate distance.
Platooning is a popular approach for a variety of reasons. It increases efficiency by allowing a single driver to direct two or more trucks. It also results in fuel savings because the following trucks have less wind resistance and thus need less fuel.
3. Using data analytics
Businesses now use data as their primary resource for making choices. Many industries wouldn’t be able to develop evidence-based strategies without it. However, in the transportation industry, sophisticated analytics systems process large volumes of data, providing insights into performance indicators, trends, and possible areas for development.
These tactics lower expenses, increase efficiency, and eventually aid in the general development of the sector.
4. Clarity of Business Value
There is a compelling commercial justification for the use of autonomous technology in the goods movement industry. This has historically struggled with driver retention. Self-driving trucks provide significant economic and operational benefits to enterprises throughout the supply chain. Here, the most noticeable is a projected 30% or more per-mile cost reduction compared to the present human-driven truck model.
The savings might be realized through lower labor costs, longer driving hours and range, higher fuel efficiency, and increased safety performance of an automated driving system—and they would most likely outweigh the added cost of an autonomous system and transfer hubs.
New developments in AV transportation technology
Emerging technologies are driving the industry to new heights.
Some examples include the advent of autonomous trucks, the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI), and the advantageous relationship between telematics and the Internet of Things (IoT).
1. Self-driving trucks
Autonomous vehicles are revolutionizing the transportation industry with their sophisticated sensors and artificial intelligence. They promise a more streamlined and efficient driving experience by reducing human mistakes, improving fuel efficiency through ongoing road monitoring, and operating without breaks.
2. Artificial intelligence
Predictive maintenance, improved safety features, and efficient route planning are all supported by AI-driven transportation systems. In addition to predicting future problems based on the analysis of historical data, these algorithms enable preventative maintenance to avoid failures and minimize downtime. All things considered, they can improve a human driver’s abilities and efficiency behind the wheel.
3. Internet of Things (IoT) and telematics
The trucking business stands to benefit greatly from the Internet of Things devices. These Internet-connected devices can transmit a wide range of data for supply chain management and optimization, particularly in over-the-road freight.
Accurate Location Tracking
At their most basic, IoT devices can answer a common dilemma in the logistics industry: Where is my freight, and when can I expect it to arrive?
By providing exact location tracking, customers may receive more accurate updates and redirect trucks as needed when problems develop, reducing late deliveries.
IoT devices can ensure proper freight handling along the voyage, providing clients peace of mind. Devices can monitor temperature and humidity, which is helpful for customers transporting agricultural items as well as high-end alcohol.
In the end!
AVs are required in the transportation sector to meet expanding freight demands while providing a nice experience for drivers and passengers. Industry-wide collaboration is vital for getting this technology right and releasing solutions to improve efficiencies and road safety.
As we look to the future of transportation, we understand that technology and innovation will be critical to our success. It’s an exciting time for the industry as demand for these solutions grows, and we innovate to better assist our customers and their long-term success.