Driverless Class 8 Trucks??

Google has rolled out a driverless automobile as most of us know and there is talk about driverless big rigs in Europe on the road in our lifetime. Trains have had this technology in use for awhile as well as subways and some metro buses. Higher end cars can paralell park, slow itself down if over the speed limit, avoid something in the road ahead if it isn't another vehicle or a vehicle going too slow or dead stopped in a drive lane, keep itself from following too close and there are probably some features I am not aware of and now inovators like Google have invested in driverless technology and to my knowledge Google is the only inovator who actually has one in road testing.

Folks the driverless future for personal and commercial vehicles is happening right now and the question many in transportation is asking, will this technology eventually replace truck drivers?

While it certainly may provide safer driving and the fact that humans don't need to thump the tires, do the walk-around, check the air lines, etc. (the computer takes care of most of that) I agree that 4 wheel drivers will never accept that an 80,000 lb monster vehicle has no driver. Take other vehicles off the road and put'em in the air or on their own highways would help solve that issue but airborn civilians could create a ton of new safety issues. Trains and subways have no other vehicles to be concerned about so a driverless train is very acceptable to the public but cars and small trucks are a huge risk for any driverless big rig considering their potential to do a lot of damage should something go wrong.

As we all know, no technology comes without potential problems and gliches, and is a breeding ground for cyber attacks, etc. NASA, the most high level technology corporation on the planet, can testify to that. And yes, humans are definitely not perfect and Google is counting on that for pushing their technology forward, however, a computerized Class 8 truck will not have the ability to fuel itself and won't spend money in truck stop stores, eat food in the restaurants, tip the waitresses, need groceries while on the road, use the laundramats, buy cell phones and airtime, etc. The services drivers use will be jobs lost for thousands across America and the world.

Yes, we will still need drivers and with new technology, computer technology trained drivers which could potentially create a more severe demand for qualified drivers than we've ever had to deal with now or in the past.

Marge Bailey/Admin