The emergence of driverless vehicles has been all but a certainty for years now. Several signs have signaled the growing popularity of autonomy, and the trucking industry has seen many of these signs first-hand.
From company mergers that involve self-driving startups to test runs and actual deliveries via driverless vehicles, there are plenty of indicators of autonomy’s prominence. Now the American Trucking Associations is taking another huge step in ushering this technology into the truck driving industry.
ATA recently released the first-ever autonomous trucking policy guidelines. This policy covers various aspects of driverless vehicles, including how to keep them safe, the role of state and federal governments in autonomous legislation, uniformity throughout the country, applicable infrastructure, and industry education.
The comprehensive and holistic policy has eight key points, each identified by ATA as crucial to the successful and safe deployment of driverless trucks as a regular sight on America’s roadways. Specific points include an investment in a coalition to help demonstrate improved safety and connectivity among driverless trucks, as well as demonstrations to establish valuable information.
Outdated safety laws should also be revised or removed, and the industry must be careful that lawmakers do not stifle the development of this technology through legislation. ATA officials are leaning more toward federal legislation than state, as doing so would create uniform rules for interstate travel – a necessity for smooth and seamless operations in the industry even today.
Laws should also refrain from requiring or limiting different levels of automation. The natural progression of the technology should be set in place by the industry and developers, rather than by lawmakers. Infrastructure investments should also be looked at as a plus for the autonomous vehicle market, as well as the conventional vehicle market.
ATA President and CEO Chris Spear spoke about the policy guidelines, saying: “Over the past year, ATA has been active in this debate, advocating for recognition of the importance of the trucking industry when it comes to the development of automated vehicles. The adoption of this policy gives a clear direction about what our industry will expect and require as policymakers establish a comprehensive framework for automated vehicles.”
The autonomous trucks will still have a driver/manager at the wheel. No way will these vehicles be completely autonomous. Too many idiot 4 wheelers out there that will try and mess with these trucks, when they try and screw with me in today’s world, they find out real quick who the boss is.
4 wheelers don’t understand how to properly merge into traffic, they think were supposed to slow down and let them in, NOPE SORRY KIDS. Doesn’t work that way, you adjust your speed to me, or find out real quick what a shoulder feels like.
You would not believe the shit I go through on the road, there are people out there that intentionally try and wreck our rigs.
This job is goddamn dangerous as hell….. Believe it or not speed is a good thing with these rigs, too slow, or governed down equipment will get you killed faster than a snipers bullet shot from an assassins sniper rifle.
Speed is subjective according to weather, obviously, pros know when to get down and when to slow up, we do 150,000 miles a year, we get it.
I haul ass, it keeps me alive. The 4 wheel idiots see me coming at speed, they get the fk out of the way, too slow they will play games.
We have schedules to keep, there is mind games we have play out here to get the job done.
How the bejeezus could this crap ever work? The autonomous trouble the kangaroos are giving the Aussies is enough to make milk shoot out your nose. If they can’t recognize a bouncing critter, them Mexican hopper cars would have combos jackknifed all over the place.
Screw the autonomous agenda! Where is my flying car?!?!