(AMHERST, MASS.) Driverless trucks with artificial intelligence on board could dramatically change the landscape of freight shipping. A few companies have begun testing early models on some limited routes in Texas and California. Simulations of automated fleets show the potential benefits of the technology: The vehicles could improve safety, enhance fuel economy and lessen transit times.
Truck makers and operators still have to solve some major issues, however, including how automated trucks will operate in variable weather and road conditions, and whether drivers should still be inside big rigs.
kAmx 2> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?Dn9=l6?U2>AjFD6Clp"47E2tppppyU2>AjG:6H0@Al=:DE0H@C<DU2>AjD@CE3JlAF352E6Qm2? 6?8:?66Ck^2m H9@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]F>2DD]65F^6?8:?66C:?8^23@FE^5:C64E@CJ^D92??@?\C@36CEDQmDEF5:6D 9F>2? 724E@CD 2?5 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? D276EJk^2m[ 2?5 :? >J G:6H[ :E :D =:<6=J E92E 2FE@>2E65 ECF4<D 2?5 9F>2? 5C:G6CD H:== 36 H@C<:?8 E@86E96C 7@C BF:E6 D@>6 E:>6]k^Am
k9amq6?67:ED @7 2FE@>2E:@?k^9am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D26]@C8^DE2?52C5D^;b_`e0a_a`_c\E2I@?@>J\567:?:E:@?D\E6C>D\C6=2E65\5C:G:?8\2FE@>2E:@?\DJDE6>D\C@25\>@E@C\G69:4=6DQmuF==J 2FE@>2E65 ECF4<Dk^2m[ H9:49 42? 5C:G6 @? 2? :?E6CDE2E6 9:89H2J :? 8@@5 H62E96C H:E9@FE 9F>2? :?E6CG6?E:@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]EC:A]a_ae]`_ab_hQmFD6 2 4@>3:?2E:@?k^2m @7 px[ >249:?6 =62C?:?8[ 4@>AFE6C G:D:@?[ A2EE6C? C64@8?:E:@? 2?5 252AE:G6 564:D:@?\>2<:?8] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E@C4]2:^52E2\=@@A\D:>F=2E:@?\2FE@?@>@FD\ECF4<D\56G6=@A>6?E^Qm%@C4k^2m[ @?6 4@>A2?J 56G6=@A:?8 E96D6 G69:4=6D[ FD6D px E@ 4@>3:?6 52E2 7C@> >F=E:A=6 D6?D@CD 2?5 86?6C2E6 >@56=D E92E AC65:4E ECF4< A6C7@C>2?46]k^Am
kAms2E2 E2<6? 7C@> >@56C? 3:8 C:8D E92E 2C6 6BF:AA65 H:E9 46CE2:? E649?@=@8J DF49 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_g_^`dbghdgg]a_a`]`ghbf__Qm2FE@>2E:4 6>6C86?4J 3C2<:?8k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]22A]a_`_]`_]_bbQm=2?6\<66A:?8 2DD:DE2?46 DJDE6>Dk^2m :?5:42E6 E92E 7F==J 2FE@>2E65[ 5C:G6C=6DD ECF4<D 4@F=5 C65F46 E96 ?F>36C 2?5 D6G6C:EJ @7 4C2D96D] %96J 4@F=5 2=D@ D2G6 7F6= 2?5 E96C67@C6 4@DE 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EC2?DA@CE2E:@?]8@G^2G^H@C<7@C46^C6A@CEQm@AE:>:K:?8 2446=6C2E:@? 2?5 3C2<:?8k^2m[ 2?5 3J CF??:?8 >F=E:A=6 G69:4=6D :? 2 4=@D6\<?:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]EC3]a_`f]`_]_`eQm4@?G@J @C A=2E@@?k^2m] sC:G6C=6DD ECF4<D 4@F=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_e`^hfg_fgccgb`bg]__cQmC65F46 A2C<:?8 ?665D 2D H6== 2D 6>:DD:@?D 7C@> :5=:?8k^2m 3642FD6 E96J 4@F=5 CF? 2=>@DE ac 9@FCD 2 52J 2?5 H@F=5 ?@E ?665 E@ :5=6 H96? E96J 5@ A2C<[ H9:49 :D 4@>>@? 7@C C68F=2C C:8D 2E ECF4< DE@AD]k^Am
kAmu:?2==J[ 2FE@>2E65 ECF4<D 4@F=5 96=A 62D6 E96 @?8@:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]EC2?A@=]a_ad]`_bh_fQm5C:G6C D9@CE286k^2m] xC@?:42==J[ 2FE@>2E:@? 4@F=5 >2<6 5C:G:?8 =6DD DEC6DD7F= 2?5 =6DD A9JD:42==J 56>2?5:?8[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]82@]8@G^AC@5F4ED^82@\`h\`e`Qm:>AC@G:?8 ;@3 D2E:D724E:@? 2>@?8 5C:G6CDk^2m]k^Am
k9am(62E96C 2?5 H@C< K@?6D 2C6 92C5 E@ ?2G:82E6k^9am
kAm%96 >2:? C62D@? 2FE@>2E65 ECF4<D 2C6 ?@E 4@>>@? E@52J :D E92E E96J 92G6 5:77:4F=EJ @A6C2E:?8 :? G2C:23=6 H62E96C[ F?56C 492?8:?8 C@25H2J 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 2=@?8D:56 F?AC65:4E23=6 5C:G6CD]k^Am
kAmpFE@>2E65 ECF4<D C6BF:C6 D6?D@CD[ C252CD 2?5 42>6C2D E92E 82E96C :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96 6?G:C@?>6?E 2C@F?5 E96> E@ >2<6 564:D:@?D] w@H6G6C[ D?@H 2?5 C2:? C6>2:? 2 AC@3=6> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=D]2>6ED@4]@C8^G:6H^;@FC?2=D^32>D^`_`^``^32>Ds`h__bd]I>=Qm7@C 2== 2FE@>2E65 G69:4=6Dk^2m[ :?4=F5:?8 42CD[ 3642FD6 E96J AC6G6?E E96 E649?@=@8J 7C@> “D66:?8” E96 C@25H2J] sC:G6C=6DD E2I: 4@>A2?J (2J>@[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ @?=J @A6C2E6D 5C:G6C=6DD 42CD :? 2C62D E92E 86E ?@ D?@H]k^Am
kAmuFCE96C>@C6[ 2?J DEC6E49 @7 C@25 H96C6 E96C6 >2J ?@E 36 2 AC65:4E23=6[ 4=62C DFC7246 2?5 AC6G2=6?E =:?6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_h^~y'%]a_ab]bbbd`g_Qm:D 5:77:4F=E E@ 92?5=6k^2m] x>28:?6 2 4@?DECF4E:@? K@?6 H:E9 @C2?86 4@?6D[ ?2CC@H =2?6D 2?5 >:DD:?8 =2?6 =:?6D] sC:G6C=6DD 42C 4@>A2?:6D DE:== ECJ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4?34]4@>^a_ae^_e^`g^H2J>@\?9ED2\G@=F?E2CJ\C642==\C@3@E2I:D\6?E6C65\7C66H2J\4@?DECF4E:@?\K@?6D]9E>=Qm2G@:5 E96D6 2C62Dk^2m] p?5[ @55=J[ D@>6 C6D62C49 D9@HD E92E 2FE@>@3:=6 5C:G6CD E6?5 E@ 4C2D9 :?E@ 5C:G6C=6DD 42CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dc`cef\_ac\cgdae\cQm2E 2 9:896C C2E6k^2m E92? E96J 5@ 42CD A:=@E65 3J A6@A=6]k^Am
kAmv:G6? E9@D6 492==6?86D[ 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 E6DE:?8 2FE@>2E65 ECF4<D @? C@25D E92E =24< 4@>A=:42E:@?D]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ 2FE@?@>@FD ECF4< >2<6C pFC@C2 :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:C]2FC@C2]E649^?6HD\6G6?ED^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^56E2:=^``h^2FC@C2\368:?D\4@>>6C4:2=\5C:G6C=6DD\ECF4<:?8\:?\E6I2D\FD96C:?8\:?\2\?6H\6C2\@7\7C6:89EQm@A6C2E:?8 =2C86 7C6:89E ECF4<D @? x\cdk^2m[ 2 C6=2E:G6=J 7=2E 2?5 DEC2:89E 9:89H2J 36EH66? s2==2D 2?5 w@FDE@?] #:G2= z@5:2<’D C@3@ECF4<D 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:C]2E=2D]6?6C8J^?6HD\6G6?ED^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^56E2:=^cf^<@5:2<\56=:G6CD\4FDE@>6C\@H?65\2FE@?@>@FD\C@3@ECF4<D\E@Qm56=:G6C:?8 D2?5 E@ :?5FDEC:2= D:E6Dk^2m :? %6I2D @G6C C@25D 76H A6@A=6 FD6] u6H :7 2?J 2FE@>2E65 ECF4<D 2C6 36:?8 E6DE65 :? 492@E:4 FC32? 6?G:C@?>6?ED[ 8:G6? E96 A656DEC:2?D[ 3:4J4=:DED[ EC277:4 =:89ED 2?5 6=6>6?ED @7 4:EJ EC277:4]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^*_;&|tK;{3cnH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?msC:G6C=6DD ECF4<D 2C6 @A6C2E:?8 @? D@>6 C@25D :? %6I2D]k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAm$@>6 4@>A2?:6D E92E H6C6 56G6=@A:?8 2FE@>2E65 ECF4<D 92G6 D42=65 324< 2>3:E:@?D[ 492?865 5:C64E:@? @C 6I:E65 E96 >2C<6E]k^Am
kAmx? a_ab[ t>32C<[ %F$:>A=6 2?5 {@4@>@E:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=:G6:?E967FEFC6]@C8^DE@C:6D^2FE@?@>@FD\ECF4<:?8\8C2G6J2C5Qm4=@D65 5@H?k^2m] (2J>@ 3682? E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2CDE649?:42]4@>^82586ED^a_ab^_f^H2J>@\<:==D\@77\2FE@?@>@FD\ECF4<:?8\AC@8C2>^Qm7@4FD D@=6=J @? 42CDk^2m] ~E96C 4@>A2?:6D ?2CC@H65 E96:C 7@4FD E@ ECF4<D E92E H@F=5 @A6C2E6 @?=J 2=@?8 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9@FDE@?AF3=:4>65:2]@C8^2CE:4=6D^E649?@=@8J^a_ad^_d^`a^da``b_^EH@\4@>A2?:6D\368:?\E6DE:?8\5C:G6C=6DD\4@>>6C4:2=\ECF4<D\:?\9@FDE@?\2C62^Qm76H 565:42E65 C@FE6D 36EH66? EH@ =2C86 4:E:6Dk^2m @C >2?F724EFC:?8 D:E6D]k^Am
k9amsC:G6CD 2?5 ECF4<D E92E H@C< E@86E96Ck^9am
kAmx? >J G:6H[ 7@C J62CD E@ 4@>6[ 2FE@>2E65 ECF4<D H:E9 px\32D65 4@?EC@=D H:== DE:== C6BF:C6 2 5C:G6C]k^Am
kAm%96 36DE E649?@=@8J H:== DFAA@CE 2 DJ>3:@D:D 36EH66? 9F>2? 2?5 >249:?6[ H96C6 E96 A6CD@? 2?5 E96 ECF4< 6249 5@ H92E E96J 5@ 36DE] p 9F>2? H@F=5 =:<6=J 5C:G6 E96 ECF4< 24C@DD E96 “7:CDE >:=6” – E96 F?46CE2:? 2?5 4C@H565 H2C69@FD6 8C@F?5D 2?5 =@42= DEC66ED E@ 2 9:89H2J] %96 5C:G6C H@F=5 E96? DE@A FD:?8 E96 DE66C:?8 H966=[ 82D A652= 2?5 3C2<6 2?5 =6E 2FE@>2E:@? E2<6 @G6C] %96 9F>2? H@F=5 E2<6 324< 4@?EC@= 5FC:?8 E96 “=2DE >:=6” E@ E96 ECF4<’D 7:?2= 56DE:?2E:@?]k^Am
kAm#6D62C49 >J 4@==628F6D 2?5 x 4@?5F4E65 D9@HD E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]EC7]a_ae]`_bfdgQm9F>2?\>249:?6 :?E6C7246Dk^2m E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]EC7]a_ac]_g]_`cQm4@>>F?:42E6 36EH66? 5C:G6CD 2?5 2FE@?@>@FD G69:4=6Dk^2m H:== 36 <6J] u@C 6I2>A=6[ 2 D4C66? @C 9625D\FA 5:DA=2J :?D:56 E96 423 H@F=5 E6== E96 5C:G6C 9@H E96 E649?@=@8J :D 5@:?8] '6C32= >6DD286D @C 2 G:3C2E:?8 D62E 4@F=5 D:8?2= E92E E96 2FE@>2E:@? 42??@E 92?5=6 2 56G6=@A:?8 D:EF2E:@?[ 2?5 E96 5C:G6C H@F=5 E2<6 @G6C]k^Am
kAms6G6=@A6CD H:== 92G6 E@ 36 2H2C6 @7 A@DD:3=6 3:2D6D] $@\42==65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_g^xr$\_g\a_ad\_b`gQm2FE@>2E:@? 3:2Dk^2m 4@F=5 =625 E@ 2 5C:G6C H9@ ECFDED 2?5 C6=:6D @? E96 ECF4<’D 564:D:@?\>2<:?8 D@ >F49 E92E E96J 5676C E@ :E] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_g_^_he__gd)]a_a`]`hafa`aQmp=8@C:E9>:4 3:2Dk^2m 4@F=5 42FD6 ECF4< D6?D@CD E@ C64@8?:K6 46CE2:? 8C@FAD @7 A6@A=6 @? E96 C@25 >@C6 E92? @E96CD[ DF49 2D @?=J 56E64E:?8 A656DEC:2?D @7 2 46CE2:? D:K6 @C D92A6]k^Am
kAm%96 =@?8\E6C> G:D:@? :D E@ 92G6 ?@ 5C:G6C[ :? A2CE E@ =@H6C 4@DED] qFE 5C:G6C=6DD ECF4<D 5@ ?@E D66> E@ >6 E@ 36 AC24E:42= @? 2 =2C86 D42=6 :? E96 ?62C 7FEFC6] xE :D >@C6 C62=:DE:4 E@ 6?G:D:@? E96 5C:G6C 2?5 E96 2FE@>2E65 ECF4< 2D 2 E62>] '69:4=6 >2?F724EFC6CD[ E649?@=@8J 56G6=@A6CD[ C68F=2E@CD 2?5 5C:G6CD H:== ?665 E@ H@C< E@86E96C E@ C62=:K6 E96 36?67:ED]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah``abQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji kDA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^D92??@?\C@36CED\`d`c`cbnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah``abQm$92??@? #@36CEDk^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F>2DD\2>96CDE\`debnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah``abQm&|2DD p>96CDEk^2mk^6>mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^3C:?8:?8\2:\FA\E@\DA665\2FE@?@>@FD\2FE@\C24:?8\AC@>:D6D\D276C\5C:G6C=6DD\42CD\@?\E96\C@25\a`ca_gnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah``abQmqC:?8:?8 px FA E@ DA665 – 2FE@?@>@FD 2FE@ C24:?8 AC@>:D6D D276C 5C:G6C=6DD 42CD @? E96 C@25k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\E6D=2D\2FE@A:=@E\4C2D96D\DAFCC65\E96\765D\E@\:?G6DE:82E6\5C:G6C\2DD:DE\E649?@=@8:6D\2?5\H92E\E92E\>62?D\7@C\E96\7FEFC6\@7\D6=7\5C:G:?8\42CD\`eeb_fnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah``abQm(9J %6D=2’D pFE@A:=@E 4C2D96D DAFCC65 E96 765D E@ :?G6DE:82E6 5C:G6C‑2DD:DE E649?@=@8:6D – 2?5 H92E E92E >62?D 7@C E96 7FEFC6 @7 D6=7‑5C:G:?8 42CDk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7@C6?D:4D\E@@=\C62?:>2E6D\E96\3C2:?D\@7\2:D\E92E\72:=\:?\@C56C\E@\F?56CDE2?5\H92E\H6?E\HC@?8\acffehnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah``abQmu@C6?D:4D E@@= ‘C62?:>2E6D’ E96 ‘3C2:?D’ @7 pxD E92E 72:= :? @C56C E@ F?56CDE2?5 H92E H6?E HC@?8k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m$92??@? #@36CED C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 |2DD249FD6EED s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@?[ }2E:@?2= $4:6?46 u@F?52E:@?[ }*$tp#rw[ $=@2? u@F?52E:@?[ 2?5 &$ s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@?] $96 92D AC6G:@FD=J C646:G65 7F?5:?8 7C@> q6=C@?[ v|[ 2?5 %@J@E2 r@==23@C2E:G6 $276EJ #6D62C49 r6?E6C]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^ah``ab^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.