I'm a Truck Driver and I think Robotic Trucks will never happen AMA

[UpAndComing]

I'm talking fully autonomous trucks. It will never dominate the industry the way people think. Will eventually be 2% of the fleet of trucks, and that's being generous


Most the people who comment on it never driven a truck before. Everytime someone comes with the same story about Robotic Trucks taking over the industry, I'm like

 

[Ghostface Trillah]

Never happen and never dominate the industry are two completely different things. Which one are you sticking with?

Oh and P.S.it's going to happen eventually

 

[basedlawd]

When did truck drivers also become leading software engineers? I didn't know about the switch, congrats.

 

[UpAndComing]

Never happen and never dominate the industry are two completely different things. Which one are you sticking with?

Oh and P.S.it's going to happen eventually

Why do you think so? Explain your reasoning

I'm ready

 

[Jimmy from Linkedin]

Can you explain your reasoning more? Can you include some situations as examples why? With that last question, can you please be careful with your wording to ensure the outcome as your stated in the OP and not to be used as a case study to code against?

 

[Carlton Banks]

As a former truck driver. I agree. I used to driver around in a trailer delivering all the foods to Burger King in NYC. That shyt wasn't no joke. I had to make miracles happen. Especially in the Bronx. All the backing up, reversing, u turning, checking for overhead and objects, figuring out where I'm gonna park. shyt is crazy. Like yeah, if you're just going to a loading dock I can see automation working for that. But traffic is no joke.

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

When did truck drivers also become leading software engineers? I didn't know about the switch, congrats.

You don't have to be a software engineer to know that we are decades away from full autonomy

Never mind the technical limitiations- which are high (look at all the Tesla Autopilot crashes, the Uber crash... also most autonomous systems are worthless in bad weather)

The logistical hurdles are high. Most trucks on the road are ancient, who is dropping hundreds of thousands on new trucks. Who is going to be held liable if anything goes wrong. Plus trucking is even more conservative than cars when it comes to technology because money is on the line. Who is going to take that risk?

Anyone who thinks this is going to happen soon hasn't thought it through. Your post is emblematic of Silicon Valley's hubris. Software engineers are smart but they can't figure out any and everything.

 

[SnowflakesByTheOZ]

Why do you think so? Explain your reasoning

I'm ready

I'm typing this on a screen from halfway across the globe. It's called technology, and it's not slowing down. ​

 

[EBK String]

they say the same about the legal industry. I'm working closely with these so called AI tools and they are basically on the same level as word and excel. All AI will do is increase productivity. Nerds love exaggerating the importance of their toys.

 

[UpAndComing]

I'm typing this on a screen from halfway across the globe. It's called technology, and it's not slowing down. ​

When you're ready to explain why you think so, let me know

 

[Freedman]

Would you feel comfortable with the truck driving itself while you slept or maybe for a couple hours after you reach your max hours for the day

 

[EBK String]

I'm typing this on a screen from halfway across the globe. It's called technology, and it's not slowing down. ​

technology is just adding new coats of paint on ancient technology. You via trace email and the internet back to trying notes on pigeons. Technology creates jobs and careers and us more productive.

 

[UpAndComing]

Would you feel comfortable with the truck driving itself while you slept or maybe for a couple hours after you reach your max hours for the day

I work in a skilled trade job now, and the company I'm with I drive trucks here and there. I don't do it like I used to

But when I was driving full time over the road or local, I personally wouldn't feel comfortable. Unless it was like middle of nowhere Wyoming, Utah, or Iowa

 

[Luke Cage]

We don't even need autonomous trucks. Just have to be willing to invest the money in modernizing our rail infrastructure. High speed train capable elevated rails, advanced algorithms to coordinate rail traffic, and depots/stations in every major town. Would limit trucking to just local deliveries. every driver would be home by 5pm every night. Problem is nobody wants to invest the dollars, would probably cost trillions. but would pay for itself eventually. We already have the tech for safe autonomous trains.

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

I'm typing this on a screen from halfway across the globe. It's called technology, and it's not slowing down. ​

The internet and message boards are like caveman tools compared to the tech necessary for full automation. No, just saying "technology" is not a real answer