The math is improving for autonomous trucks
After years of development, AV truck are gaining traction, but the industry's next breakthrough is economic, not technical.
TL;DR
- Autonomous trucks are expected to become cheaper per mile than human-driven trucks by 2028.
- The cost of autonomous technology in trucks is projected to fall significantly by 2035.
- The global market for autonomous trucking is predicted to surpass that of self-driving cabs by 2035.
- Some companies, like Bot Auto, claim their autonomous trucks are already cheaper on specific routes.
- Autonomous trucks have the advantage of not being limited by human driver hours of service regulations.
- Challenges include proving safety, regulatory hurdles, and labor union opposition, though regulatory progress is being made.
- California has approved new rules for AV trucks, and Congress may address industry rules in a highway funding bill.