News Home / Other News / Autonomous Trucks: Debunked

Autonomous Trucks: Debunked
Jan 25, 2021

By Reagan Payne

Drivers all across the nation hear treacherous tales of self-driving trucks. Carriers that carry themselves down the interstate threaten driver job security, despite the current high demand.

Good news: these trucks are not truly autonomous — and might never be. If drivers are still required to be in trucks, then jobs are secure, MIT Technology Review reports. 

While it is obvious that these “autonomous” trucks need a driver and maybe an engineer on board for safe trial runs, could the truck ever do without? According to the Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE), a Level 5 self-driving truck is truly driverless. In these, AI is driving the machine and there is no need for a human driver.

As a society, we are decidedly not there yet. The trucks touted in these popular press pieces are Level 4 driverless vehicles at best. These Level 4 machines can drive themselves in very specific circumstances.

For example, a Level 4 truck may be able to drive on a pre-defined highway route in dry weather conditions only. Theoretically, this pre-defined route could include getting on and off the highway or interstate. The “backup driver” often drives the truck onto and off the highway to the delivery destination.

Misleading media

This happened with the Uber Otto “self-driving” semi-hauler that made a 120-mile run to deliver Budweiser. Not only do these souped-up cruise control vehicles need help getting on and off the highway, but a guild of guardian cars ensuring safe travels.

Some self-driving stunts employ human drivers to form a shield to keep traffic from interfering with the “autonomous” truck. Truckers handle this every single day, all on their own with no extra hands.

Surely these AI systems can be of use to truckers; productive rest time is a possibility with these developments. However, trucks still cannot accomplish these tasks fully autonomously. 

This development is currently a privately-held goal. Only companies are racing to achieve this level of technology; the government has only stepped in to regulate it. Not to mention the public’s reservations with the topic: does it maintain a safe highway and local environment to bystanders?

It is undeniable that things will go wrong with these developments. For the sake of public relations alone, trucking companies are sure to keep traditional drivers behind the wheel to gain points with the public. Not to mention sales: no one wants to drink beer from a delivery that killed a family of five on the way.

Reagan Payne is a staff writer for Wright Media. She can be reached at rpayne@wrightmediacorp.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post Comment

You May Also Be Interested In...

Destroying Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is an inescapable issue for everyone on the road. While safety policies are effective, the industry is turning to technology to help combat it. Often, people think of driving distractions as anything that can take attention awa...
Feb 04, 2021
Autonomous Trucks: Debunked
Averitt Associates Make Record $1,500,001 Donation to St. Jude
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – February 29, 2024– Truck drivers and other Averitt associates recently donated $1,500,001 to St. Jude Children’s...
Feb 29, 2024
Mastering Recruitment Success in the New Year with HireMaster.Ai
As we approach the new year, recruiting professionals are gearing up to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of talent acquisition. One critical aspec...
Nov 28, 2023
Averitt Honored with Military Friendly Awards
Averitt has been recognized as a 2024 Top Ten Military Friendly® Employer and Military Friendly® Spouse Employer by VIQTORY, a veteran-owned o...
Nov 14, 2023
Women in Trucking Association names Averitt a Top Company
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Averitt Express was recently recognized by the Women InTrucking Association, as it was c...
Nov 08, 2023
Averitt sets record softball attendance in Cookeville, helps support St. Jude
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Averitt Express recently hosted a record number of associates,family membersand friendsas part of its annual softball tour...
Oct 04, 2023
Staying Ahead of the Curve: Integrating HireMaster.Ai into Your Campaign Strategy
Staying Ahead of the Curve: Integrating HireMaster.Ai into Your Campaign Strategy In the age of rapid technological advancement, staying competitive ...
Sep 27, 2023
Averitt Honored Among the Best as a Top 100 Trucker in 2023
Averitt Express has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Trucking Companies for 2023 by Inbound Logistics magazine. Recipients of the honor were de...
Sep 21, 2023
Averitt Named 2023 Top 100 3PL Provider
Averitt Express has been named a 2023 Top 100 3PL Provider byInbound Logisticsmagazine.The list serves as anassessment of service providers thepubli...
Sep 06, 2023
Averitt Partners with Platform Science to Accelerate the Next Generation of its Driver Experience
Averitt Rolls Out Virtual Vehicle Platform to Entire Fleet Cookeville, Tenn. and San Diego, Calif. – Averitt, a leading provider of freight tra...
Aug 31, 2023
Averitt Earns Five Quest For Quality Wins, Fuled by Shippers' Endorsement
Averitt Earns Five Quest For Quality Wins, Fueled by Shippers’ Endorsement Logistics Managementmagazine readers have acknowledged Averitt...
Aug 15, 2023
Averitt launches safety video campaign for its 5,000+ drivers
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As part of Averitt Express’ continuing commitment to promote a culture of safety, the company recently launched a sa...
Aug 11, 2023
Averitt Express Awarded 2023 LTL Carrier of the Year by GEODIS
GEODIS, a globalwarehousingand third-partylogisticscompany, has named Averitt its 2023 LTL Carrier of the Year. Carriers are judged on a wide variet...
Aug 04, 2023
Averitt Named 2023 Green Supply Chain Partner for Sustainability Initiatives
Averitt Express has been named a 2023 Green Supply Chain Partner by Inbound Logistics, an industry trade publication.This marks the 13thyear that th...
Jul 20, 2023
Action Resources wins top safety award
By Joe MedleyWright Media, LLC Do you, and be good at what you do. The latest Alabama Trucking Association Fleet Safety Contest affirms that Action ...
May 15, 2023
Averitt delivers record donation of more than $1.2 million to St. Jude
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Truck drivers and other employees of Averitt Express recently set a new standard for their largest donation to St. Jude Child...
Mar 21, 2023
Savvy Sandoval once again leads Mesilla Valley drivers in MPG performance
By Al MuskewitzRoberto Sandoval became a professional truck driver because he saw it as a solid, steady job with good pay to provide for his growing f...
Jan 26, 2023
Reyes Coaches MVT Drivers to Best Fuel Efficiency
By Al Muskewitz While he hasn’t actually heard anyone call him this around the yard, truth be told Jose Reyes is the “Fuel Whisperer&rdqu...
Dec 29, 2022
Expecting mom wins MVT quarterly award
By Al Muskewitz One of Royal Jones’ greatest pleasures as Mesilla Valley Transportation’s president and CEO is handing over a set of car k...
Dec 12, 2022
MVT Green Giant of Trucking Industry
By Al MuskewitzThe primary colors in Mesilla Valley Transportation’s corporate logo are red, royal blue and purple – the hues of the deser...
Nov 28, 2022
Averitt Recognized for Green Commitment
Averitt Express recently was honored by the Tennessee Trucking Association for its commitment to envrionmental responsibility.The Clean Diesel Award i...
Oct 06, 2022
Updated COVID Vaccines Can Help Keep You Trucking Along
From Healthy Trucking of America Commercial truck drivers are the lifeblood of America’s supply chain. To borrow a famous saying: When you snee...
Oct 05, 2022
Trucking groups seek feedback
Two nationwide trucking support groups have put out a call for feedback for their biggest initiatives of the year.The Truckload Carriers Association a...
Sep 06, 2022
FirstFleet rewards drivers for referrals
Charles Blankenship has a sharp eye for driving talent and now he has a sharp new truck to show for it.Blankenship, a FirstFleet driver from Circlevil...
Sep 06, 2022
Bolduc Crowned NTDC Grand Champion
INDIANAPOLIS –Roland Bolduc knows his way on the road and his way to the winner’s circle.Bolduc, a professional driv...
Aug 22, 2022
Forsage a carrier living the American dream
By Al MuskewitzEditor, Wright MediaThe founders came to the United States with $100 in their pockets and a belief in the American dream.After gettin...
Aug 22, 2022
Finalists emerge at NTDC
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Alphonso Lewis, the only Alabama driver to win the National Truck Driving Championship is among the 45 professional drivers...
Aug 19, 2022
Zeller Transportation celebrates 20 years of growth
By Al MuskewitzWhen Craig Zeller set off to start his own trucking company shortly after the turn of the century, the only goal he had in mind was get...
Aug 10, 2022
Trucking Wages Rise in 2021
By Al MuskewitzEditor, Wright MediaWages for the American trucker rose significantly in 2021 as the demand for drivers increased competition for talen...
Aug 10, 2022
Motivational speaker inspires attendees to make a difference
By Al MuskewitzThe room was buzzing with activity. Meeting goers were scurrying about trying to collect themselves into orderly groups based on the pl...
Aug 05, 2022
Averitt increases compensation packages
Averitt Express drivers are starting to notice a hefty difference in their paychecks.The Tennessee-based carrier recently announced several changes to...
Jul 22, 2022
One of Alabama's largest community colleges offering CDL training
‘We want to teach them to be real truck drivers. We want you leave with what you came for.’ - Alex Blevins, Jefferson StateBy Al Muskewitz...
Jul 15, 2022
Alabama Sets Hazmat Restrictions in July
The World Games will draw athletes from all over the world to Birmingham, Ala., in July and in an effort to keep the participants and spectators as sa...
Jun 28, 2022
Deep South continues doing right for drivers, boosts vacation program
By Al MuskewitzEditor, Wright MediaOne of the reasons Deep South Freight has been well below the soaring national truck driver retention average is ...
Jun 21, 2022
Twice as Nice
'Excited' Thompson Wins Alabama TDC for Second Time By Al MuskewitzPELHAM, Ala. – After seven division wins in 10 years in three different clas...
May 28, 2022
Webber Wins LB3 TDC, Looking Forward to State
By Al MuskewitzWEDOWEE, Ala. – When LB3 owner Brian Lindley read Jason Webber’s name as the winner of the company’s third annual Jef...
May 20, 2022
Stepping Up for Better Trucker Health
By Al MuskewitzCandace Rivers is all about promoting healthy lifestyles for the nation’s fleet of professional truck drivers and having fun on t...
Apr 12, 2022
FMCSA To Examine Truck Leases, Seeks Applications for Task Force
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking applications to fill as many as 10 spots on a newly formed Truck Leasing Task Force to eval...
Apr 07, 2022
ATA Honors Drivers, Professionals of the Year
The Alabama Trucking Association recognized its Driver of the Year Monday night at its annual Fleet Safety Awards banquet and both the winner and runn...
Mar 21, 2022
Hiremaster Expands Presence at MATS
Visit the Hiremaster Booth (67072) in the West Wing at MATS By Al MuskewitzAs the country and its truckers continue to come out of the COVID-19 pande...
Mar 18, 2022
Empire Express Rolling Out Largest Pay Increase
Empire Express, a Memphis, Tenn.-based carrier dedicated to delivering its no-touch freight in a safe and timely manner, is now offering its drivers t...
Mar 18, 2022
TMC Names Nadeau Trainer of the Year
Known for his professionalism and excellentrepresentation of TMC Transportation’s training standards, Matthew Nadeau has been named the company&...
Mar 15, 2022
TMC Celebrates 50 Years in Business
On March 6, 1972, a flatbed from Chicago pulled a load of steel into a yard in Des Moines, Iowa, and thus began an adventure that became the largest e...
Mar 11, 2022
TLD Logistics, ACT Among Best Fleets
After a year off from participating in the program, HireMaster client TLD Logistics is back among the Best Fleets to Drive For.The Knoxville, Tenn.-ba...
Feb 01, 2022
Covenant Bringing Zero-Emission Class 8 Trucks into Fleet
Covenant Logistics Group is joining the growing list of trucking companies doing its part to help the environment with a plan to add 50 zero-emission ...
Jan 11, 2022
MVT Celebrates 40 Years in Trucking
By Al MuskewitzWhen Royal Jones and Jimmy Ray first started their company in 1982 with two trucks out of a small mobile home on a dirt lot in New Mexi...
Jan 07, 2022
TMC Transportation Offers Drivers Room at the Inn
TMC Transportation has long been a leader in the flatbed trucking industry and now it’s expanding its reach in the hospitality business, in ef...
Dec 09, 2021
J&M Tank Lines' Henderson Driven by Safety, Giving Back
By Al MuskewitzDarrien Henderson remembers a conversation he had with a long-time trucker early in his driving career when gas was cheap and the roads...
Nov 26, 2021
Averitt Express Celebrates 50 Years
Transportation company marks official date of its 50-year anniversary with celebrations across the country; 5 drivers drawn for 2022 trucks COOKEVILL...
Nov 18, 2021
Robida Earns TMC's Monthly Trainer Award
A big reason drivers move into the arena of becoming trainers is the influence their own trainers have had on their careers.That's what prompted Richa...
Nov 17, 2021
Montgomery Transport Announces New Pay Program, Other Benefits
Montgomery Transport has consistently been out front with innovations for its employees and it continued that tradition this week by announcing a new ...
Nov 16, 2021
TMC Once Again Receives Military Friendly Designation
As our nation’s military veterans seek to move into civilian jobs after their service, they often find the transition a difficult one. Many of t...
Nov 12, 2021