Self Driving Semis

Wasn’t that at all. More of a why self driving vehicles will not work thread. Why they are a pipe dream thread. I’m not even almost concerned about em. Us giving you facts isn’t provoking us.

Hey guys. I am dipping out of this one.

Didn't mean for it to be a "YOUR ALL GOING TO BE UNEMPLOYED" thread. I had no intention of provoking anyone.

Best to you all.

Matthew, what year do you have in mind as that in which self driving trucks will start to displace OTR drivers?

Interesting. I 'd like to make a friendly bet on it.

Automated Trucks. It is coming. Sorry if that goes against"conventional wisdom. Tech is already out there and improving.

I'm sorry, but you've been snowed by the tech evangelists. Old School is right. Autonomous trucking is making billions of dollars for startup companies as the big corporations buy anything these fools put out. Why? They're afraid of being left behind. Self-driving tech isn't within 25 years of making an impact on this industry. At this point, it's a marketing gimmick. If we were serious about self-driving vehicles we would be installing the infrastructure needed to support it. No one is even seriously discussing such an investment, let alone building anything.

I wrote this article nearly five years ago, and every word holds true today:

Self Driving Trucks Are Not Coming Anytime Soon

I don't understand the comment?

No, we are all going to be proven correct.

Matthew wrote:

Hey guys. I am dipping out of this one.

Based on the above reply, I don’t understand your comment.

PackRat meant exactly what he said:

Here is what I believe:

In the foreseeable future, once adequately tested (subjectively) autonomous trucks will be used on a limited basis in limited corridors with better infrastructures and lighter traffic. There will always be a need for drivers; similar to commercial Pilots our eventual role may change over a long period of time.

Lest we forget how insurance companies will handle this... and of course politics. The political aspect and acceptance by underwriters will likely drag it out for many decades.

It’s a non-issue for you Matthew. By the time autonomy is more prolific, you’ll be retired. And so will I! Checkers anyone?

Have you driven in Dallas or Austin? They have already done this with miles of highway around both of those cities. Specifically Dallas where you have I-35 then under and around it is the George Bush tollway. In Las Vegas they're building tunnels where only autonomous vehicles, Tesla only at this point, are allowed to drive. The infrastructure can and will be built out, and I believe in most cases will be paid for by those business interests who have the most to gain from it. In the case of Las Vegas, it was paid for by Tesla, many of the Casinos that are connected by the tunnels, and government bonds. This advancement toward autonomous commercial vehicles will be a boon to the transportation indunstry. And although I believe it will happen, I agree it won't be100% within my (53) or even my child's (25) lifetime.

There could conceivably be a completely separate set of roadways built out specifically for such vehicles

With what money? I can't see the general public supporting politicians that push for higher taxes to accommodate this. If they tax those using self driving equipment to maintain that road it'll decrease those that can afford it. Have you seen how terrible many interstates are currently? How would they have the space available to add extra lanes into metro areas? Traffic is already a mess in many densely populated areas that taking away an existing lane isnt the answer either. Self driving vehicles are going to cost quite a bit more than a normal truck. If they still need a driver in the vehicle they'll have trouble finding anyone if they also cut their pay so where's the incentive?

As mentioned before it's those outside, or just entering the industry that buy into this hype of self driving trucks. If you're legitimately concerned about it find a niche in the industry that can't be automated. This industry will never be 100% self driving trucks.

The state of Illinois has been patching the same potholes on the same stretches of highway like I-80 for the past 15 years. When they can get that figured out maybe I’ll believe that such an infrastructure could be possible.

I could see self-driving trucks on long stretches of highway such as Texas, Oklahoma maybe. Thru Atlanta, Charlotte, LA, New York etc etc Hell no! Backing one into Hunts Point etc. Self-Tarping securing etc. Hmmm, Brake check from 4-wheeler in traffic. Yeah I think we are all doomed.

The state of Illinois has been patching the same potholes on the same stretches of highway like I-80 for the past 15 years. When they can get that figured out maybe I’ll believe that such an infrastructure could be possible.

Hahaha, YEP! Same here, in Ohio. Doesn't even seem like Toledo ever TAKES the same orange barrels and Jersey barriers down, year to year!

I could see self-driving trucks on long stretches of highway such as Texas, Oklahoma maybe. Thru Atlanta, Charlotte, LA, New York etc etc Hell no! Backing one into Hunts Point etc. Self-Tarping securing etc. Hmmm, Brake check from 4-wheeler in traffic. Yeah I think we are all doomed.

I know, right, George ?!?!? Heck, if ANYTHING .. LET'EM FIX the i80 in some magic highway for the autonomous semis, hahaha! (That way, HUMANS won't blow over!!) <<< I like my logic there, LoL!

~ Anne ~

Lol well they are going to have to be fixed. I don’t think any company is going to want their fancy Tesla trucks going over a six inch deep pot hole. Who knows how heavy they are going to be. And who knows how much maintenance and upkeep is going to cost.

The state of Illinois has been patching the same potholes on the same stretches of highway like I-80 for the past 15 years. When they can get that figured out maybe I’ll believe that such an infrastructure could be possible.

Hahaha, YEP! Same here, in Ohio. Doesn't even seem like Toledo ever TAKES the same orange barrels and Jersey barriers down, year to year!

I could see self-driving trucks on long stretches of highway such as Texas, Oklahoma maybe. Thru Atlanta, Charlotte, LA, New York etc etc Hell no! Backing one into Hunts Point etc. Self-Tarping securing etc. Hmmm, Brake check from 4-wheeler in traffic. Yeah I think we are all doomed.

I know, right, George ?!?!? Heck, if ANYTHING .. LET'EM FIX the i80 in some magic highway for the autonomous semis, hahaha! (That way, HUMANS won't blow over!!) <<< I like my logic there, LoL!

~ Anne ~

I must say and I quote "Tesla is the most garbage vehicle company on earth."

**End Quote**

Provocative post here, kid. A real head scratcher...

Do you have stock in Twitter?