The advancements in trucking tech have left their marks to help, hinder, and cause worries among truckers and fleet owners alike. The advent of GPS and smartphone apps have made driving more convenient. Electronic logging devices, along with the accompanying legislation, have decreased efficiency and earning capacity. The ever-looming threat of self-driving trucks has made people outright rebel to keep the human element in the shipping business.

No One is Ready for Automated Trucking Tech

Earlier this year, an automated car had a horrible accident in Arizona. If an automated car can get out of hand, how is the trucking industry supposed to take on the responsibility of robotic Class-8 vehicles? Various states are trying to push legislation to both promote and hinder the proliferation of automated trucking tech, but the reality of the situation comes down to the drivers. The truth is, no one knows how they will operate, yet they are going to be commercially available between 2020 and 2022.

Being Mindful of Trucking Tech Keeps People Employed

With all the errors and accidents surrounding trucking tech, we still need to realize there is a human element to the industry. Even the best automated trucks have problems navigating city streets and need humans at the wheel to understand how the streets work and to watch out for potential accidents and traffic infractions. Automated trucks may be good, but they also cannot perform maintenance. Right now, the trucking industry needs people. Trucking fleets need drivers to fill vacancies and haul capacity loads. Forward-thinking trucking companies are sending drivers and workers to training, so they can handle the potential problems during the transition to automated trucks, and to preserve the most important part of the trucking industry – the people.

We’re Still a Generation Away

Technology drives business models. The availability of personal computers changed things as much as the internet, and as much as smartphones have become integrated into the business world for more compact and mobile ways of handling business. Automated trucks are still a long way off, despite the scary headlines. This industry still has an entire generation to go through before we start to see driverless trucks on the road. And even with advancing trucking tech, both drivers and mechanics are keeping pace with the industry, to further their knowledge and remain integral to the business.