The Era of Self-Driving Tractor-Trailers Set to Begin

In yet another indication that the future is rapidly approaching, Aurora plans to use 20 driverless cars to haul freight on Interstate 45 between the Dallas and Houston regions. Pittsburgh-based Aurora leads a group of trucking companies, including Plus.ai and Kodiak Robotics, employing autonomous, self-driving 18-wheelers for freight transportation. Over the next five years, these companies aim to introduce thousands more self-driving trucks onto America’s public freeways to enhance the flow of goods, expedite delivery times, and potentially reduce costs.

The autonomous trucks will be more efficient, saving on fuel because they won’t have to stop for bathroom breaks and will drive at more consistent speeds. Also, Aurora says its testing has shown that if a maintenance issue arises while one of its trucks is traveling on a freeway, the vehicle will automatically pull to the side of the road and remotely call for assistance.

These autonomous trucks promise greater efficiency, as they won’t need to stop for bathroom breaks, and will maintain a more consistent speed. Additionally, Aurora says that its testing has demonstrated the trucks' ability to address maintenance issues on the freeway by pulling over and requesting assistance remotely.

Safety first

Aurora insists its trucks will be safer than human-driven ones, and has years of road tests to back up its claim. The public, however, is still skeptical. A January poll by AAA revealed that 66% of American drivers would fear riding in an autonomous vehicle.

Aurora also notes that the vehicles’ laser and radar sensors can “see” farther than human eyes can. Moreover, these autonomous trucks don't get fatigued as human drivers, nor will they risk the impairments caused by alcohol or drugs.

“We want to be out there with thousands or tens of thousands of trucks on the road. And to do that, we have to be safe. It’s the only way that the public will accept it. Frankly, it’s the only way our customers will accept it.”

— Aurora CEO Chris Urmson

“We want to be out there with thousands or tens of thousands of trucks on the road,” Aurora CEO Chris Urmson told the AP. “And to do that, we have to be safe. It’s the only way that the public will accept it. Frankly, it’s the only way our customers will accept it.”

Since 2021, driverless trucks have hauled freight over 1 million miles on public highways — but with human drivers present in the cabs during testing. Of the three accidents that occurred during testing, all were attributed to errors by human drivers in other vehicles.

“If we put a vehicle on the road that isn’t sufficiently safe — that we aren’t confident in the safety of — then it kills everything else,” Urmson added

Truckers weary of being replaced

While there is a severe shortage of drivers – and very few teenagers interested in becoming one – there’s still the age-old fear of robots taking over the job of humans.

The Teamsters Union is urging state legislatures to require human drivers to monitor the self-driving systems, claiming they are unsafe. A 2021 Transportation Department study concluded that the nationwide use of fully automated semis was years away, giving drivers time to transition to other transportation and logistics jobs that will be created.

Aurora’s Urmson dismisses these fears, noting that there's room for both types of drivers to meet the demands a growing population.

“If you’re driving a truck today,” he said, “my expectation is you’re going to be able to retire driving a truck.”

Subscribe to the Supply Chain 24/7 Newsletter and get supply chain, warehouse, and transportation news delivered directly to your inbox.