The world is undergoing constant change and development, and many scientists and other experts have been finding ways to make our lives easier in every possible way. The use of Artificial Intelligence is on the rise, and some predictions say that in 15 years, the world we know today will cease to exist, due to development of the machines. The moving industry is no exception when it comes to those predictions, especially in the field of transport. Will driverless trucks change the moving industry? Many people want to know the answer. We at Verified Movers decided to find out more about this trend and gather all the information. Keep reading and learn everything you need to know!
What are driverless trucks and are they in the use?
A driverless, or self-driving truck is a type of vehicle operated by a robot and not a human driver. The very name suggests it, after all. Self-driving semi trucks are being tested by several firms. Some of the big names in the car industry have already tried and started using autonomous cars. TuSimple created history when it became the first company in the world to drive a completely autonomous semi-truck on open, public roads without a human on board while interacting with other drivers naturally. This happened in 2021.
Some of the other companies that have been working on including completely driverless vehicles in traffic are Daimler, Waymo, and Tesla. Tesla, for instance, already has semi-autonomous cars on the streets, but they plan a fully-automated truck that would follow the lead of a vehicle with a driver. It is only a matter of time before these types of trucks make a huge change in the moving industry.
Why are self-driving trucks needed in the moving industry?
There are a few reasons why these self-driving trucks will be used in the moving industry. First of all, the shortage of truck drivers in the USA is becoming more and more obvious each day. Even though truck driver is one of the most popular professions in the USA, there has been a significant decrease. Currently, this is the number one job in 29 states in the U.S. However, many drivers think there are more downsides to their jobs than benefits.
Being a truck driver may be a very demanding profession. We all know that they spend hours and hours on the road, and it can go on like that for weeks. For that reason, many drivers decide to leave the industry and look for a job that is less physically demanding and where they have regular working hours. That is one of the reasons why self-driving trucks are one of the shipping and transportation innovations to look forward to when it comes to the moving industry.
Will truck drivers be left without their jobs?
Even though when someone explains that we expect driverless trucks to change the moving industry most people think that means the drivers will lose their jobs completely, the reality is much different. Indeed, truck drivers won’t be navigating the vehicle. However, it would be too unrealistic to expect that cars won’t have a driver for quite some time. All this has been a quite long process so far and it will take a lot of time until those trucks are on the streets without a driver in the cabin. Nevertheless, the fact is that they won’t have to do anything manually. They will just be there in case a situation that machines can’t react to occurs. So, drivers won’t lose their jobs. They will become much easier instead.
How can driverless trucks change the moving industry?
We have already explained one of the ways in which driverless trucks will change the moving industry, and that is the fact that drivers will have a much easier job. But, what are some other ways in which these vehicles can help when it comes to the development of the moving industry? Well, before we explain that, we must emphasize that, as with every change and innovation, there will be some downsides, also. Luckily, the benefits are much greater. So, let’s see the pros and cons of using the driverless truck in the moving industry.
Advantages of using self-driving trucks in moving business
There are many advantages of using self-driving trucks, and they include:
- higher efficiency;
- lower costs;
- increased safety on the roads.
All of these points are valid and show why using driverless trucks would be beneficial. When we speak about efficiency, long distance movers are the ones that come to our mind. If you are preparing this type of move, you will most certainly rent a truck for long distance move. With self-driving vehicles, the duration of this move will be much shorter. There will be no need for breaks. That leads us to lower costs. If the operating time is shorter, the costs are lower.
Safety is the most important reason why the usage of driverless trucks will improve the moving industry. This way, not only that you are sure your items will be safe, but there will be less worry for human life, which is crucial. Namely, U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that almost 95% of accidents are due to human error. This way, accidents will be almost impossible to happen.
Disadvantages of using self-driving trucks in moving business
Even though the advantages are greater, there are some downsides to using these trucks in the moving industry, and they are:
- higher costs of renting;
- cyber security;
- inability to operate in all weather conditions.
Even though the overall costs will be lower over some time, it is believed that it will be much more expensive to rent this kind of truck, especially at the beginning. Not many companies will be able to use them from the start, so the lack of competition will increase the prices. Again, long distance movers will be affected the most. There will be a new way for long distance movers to calculate costs, which is understandable.
Since these trucks will be getting commands through networks, cyber security will be one of the problems. Even though the experts have come a long way, this can always be a potential obstacle, and your belongings will always be in danger of getting stolen. Similarly, since the trucks will have sensors, heavy snow or rain showers will make it almost impossible for them to function properly.
Driverless trucks are the future of the moving industry
So, will driverless trucks change the moving industry? The answer is simple. They will. However, it will come in different phases and won’t happen all of a sudden, since the companies who make smart vehicles are still improving the regular cars. In any case, whenever it happens, the moving industry will have a lot of benefits.