In Process Of Getting CDL... But Should OTTO Concern Me?

Brett, thank you for this amazing place... I'll sure take advantage of the High Road Training Program.

My first post here.

I'm planning to attend a CDL school and secure an OTR position in the next couple of months. I know there has been a lot of discussion about OTTO and I'm not here to start another debate. However, I talked briefly to a recruiter and he said I shouldn't worry about driverless trucks as it won't happen at least for another decade or two.

With the news of UBER acquiring OTTO, I'm a bit concerned that autonomous trucks will be more practical sooner than later. I'm all for efficiency, cost saving, increased safety... and I'm sure truck companies won't delay to take advantage of this technology. I just want to be assured that the decision of me leaving my stable career (and burnt out) and start a new one in trucking is sound.

Thank you in advance for your input.

I personally don't see trucking companies jumping on that bandwagon due to the huge liability those things pose. Never in my lifetime and probably not in yours either.

Thanks Sue D.

Welcome to the forum EnTee.

Let me ask you some questions. Do computers ever break? Do they ever shut down for no apparent reason? Has MicroSoft ever written a bug-free operating system? What is the backup in the event of a failure for the driverless truck of the future? The answer is, a human driver will take over as the operator.

If and when this does happen, there will still be a driver. And local, in traffic driving? I doubt an autonomous system will be able to perform that efficiently, if at all.

I wouldn't give this much worry. The government red tape alone buys you at least ten years.

Go for it.

Thanks G-Town.

I'm never posting any thing that even vaguely mentions autonomous vehicles ever again. I'm sorry!