In the not-too-distant past, self-driving cars and trucks seemed like something straight out of science fiction. Now, it is a very real possibility that we will see autonomous vehicles on the roads in the near future. This includes self-driving commercial trucks. Now the question is, what will autonomous commercial trucks mean for drivers?

Current Autonomous Technologies

Commercial truck drivers may have some valid concerns after learning about all of the new developments in the world of autonomous commercial vehicles. Chief among these concerns is whether autonomous technology will make drivers obsolete and put many drivers out of jobs. For the time being, this is not likely.

Current autonomous technology is becoming more and more advanced, but there are still some things you need a human to do. Autonomous trucks would still require drivers to manage trip navigation and drive the truck when merging onto or exiting the highways.

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A driver’s presence is also important for safety reasons. The driver would need to manually take control of the truck should anything happen that the autonomous systems are not prepared for.

Autonomous technologies and systems could have a significant impact on distance trucking, to help manage speeds and reduce costs.

There are still many logistical concerns that will minimize the immediate impact of autonomous technologies. However, the development of these systems will continue, and eventually we will see a significant impact on both the automotive and trucking industries.

While we do not currently currently carry any self-driving trucks, Allstate Peterbilt Group offers many excellent commercial trucks at our locations spread throughout the Midwest. You can find your nearest Allstate Peterbilt Group location right here on our website. You can also take a look at our inventory to learn more about the models we have to offer our customers.