Automated driving systems are predicted to revolutionize the way we travel, boost safety on the roads, and reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
Despite this outlook, a recent survey by JW Surety Bonds found that 52% of individuals in the transportation industry feel uneasy about the idea of riding in a self-driving truck.
“Current transportation industry workers are somewhat optimistic about autonomous trucking, but many still worry about safety, high costs, and impacts on human job security. As with most new technologies, being willing to adapt and learn are key to staying relevant in an ever-changing world,” says JW Surety Bonds.
Below are a few highlights from the JW Surety Bonds Survey.
- 43% believe autonomous trucks will be more dangerous than those driven by humans; only 28% believe they will be safer.
- 46% believe that “autonomous only” lanes would make driving safer.
- 61% think autonomous dispatch management could benefit the trucking industry, and 53% are interested in upskilling to work with autonomous technology.
- According to those in transportation, the top potential benefits of autonomous trucks are increased productivity with 24/7 operations (70%); reduced operational costs (58%); and increased capacity for long-haul trips (53%).
- 53% of those in the transportation industry do not believe autonomous trucks will ever fully replace human drivers. However, 86% think autonomous trucks will have a negative impact on truck drivers’ job security.
- The majority of people in the transportation industry (70%) believe autonomous trucks will become entirely mainstream within 20 years.
- 78% of those surveyed think the transportation industry isn’t well-prepared for the transition to autonomous trucks, with the biggest challenges being safety and reliability concerns regarding autonomous technology (70%); high implementation and maintenance costs (59%); legal and regulatory challenges (56%); and job displacement and re-training needs for current truck drivers (51%).
- Over two in five respondents believe that addressing cybersecurity concerns is one of the biggest challenges of implementing autonomous trucks.
Source: Supply & Demand Chain Executive
