People have dreamed about the idea of self-driving vehicles for decades now, and society is slowly inching toward this reality. Companies such as Tesla Motors offer sedans, which are able autonomously to navigate freeways and can perform other essential functions for drivers. Technology companies across the world are looking to break into this market and displace the existing automotive manufacturers. With teenagers and younger adults driving less than ever before, the automotive industry must keep up with this changing demand. The craze surrounding driverless vehicles has also spilled over into the trucking industry as well. For the entrepreneurial-minded individual, purchasing a fleet of self-driving trucks could be a worthwhile venture. Down the line, the best lease to own trucking company will most likely offer these types of trucks as a potential option.
Many people, unfortunately, pass away from truck-related crashes each year, and the death toll is relatively consistent. According to many experts in the area, driverless trucks will allegedly drop the number of deaths caused by trucks and improve the overall safety of roads. Actual truck drivers have a wide variety of blind-spots and must undergo a rigorous training before they allowed to operate these trucks. While the improvement in safety is undoubtedly welcome, this form of innovation certainly comes at a cost.
Disrupting the Trucking Workforce
Since trucking companies are looking to have autonomous truck fleets, there will no longer be a use for actual drivers over time. While this technology develops across the world, real drivers will still at least remain in the driver seat to deter potential accidents. However, when this technology works as planned, roughly three million Americans will be out of work seemingly overnight. It will be interesting to see how these individuals will transition to other roles in society once this industry changes drastically.