Impacts of Automated Trucking Technologies on the Critical Issues of Trucking Industry

Despite the broad implications, it is not clear how the advent of emerging automated trucking technologies would impact the trucking industry in the United States (U.S.). Hence, this study investigated the potential impacts of autonomous trucking technologies on the future of the trucking industry in the U.S. The pertinent literature was reviewed to assess the state-of-the-art of different levels of automated trucking technologies and to identify their impacts on the critical issues of the trucking industry. The results of the review were then used to design survey questionnaires for truck drivers, trucking company managers/owners, automated trucking technology developers, and transportation planners. Results indicate that improved productivity, improved compliance, safety and accountability (CSA), and reduced crashes were the most expected advantages of autonomous trucking. However, analysis of the responses also imply a significant difference in the perception of the survey respondent groups regarding the degree of realization of the advantages. These results are expected to be highly valuable for transportation planners to coordinate with truck drivers, autonomous trucking technology developers, and trucking company managers for creating cohesive transportation plans aimed at maximizing the benefits of the early adoption of autonomous trucking technologies.