The rise and widespread use of autonomous vehicles is leading to a revolution in the trucking industry. While this technology remains in its infancy, self-driving semi-trucks have the potential to transform the way goods are transported, fundamentally altering the shape of the economy.
What is autonomous driving?
Commonly referred to as “self-driving” vehicles, an autonomous vehicle is any vehicle equipped with systems capable of navigating and operating without human input. Not all autonomous vehicles are intended to fully replace a human driver. Some simply provide guidance and enhanced safety features while a human driver remains primarily responsible for the vehicle’s monitoring and operation.
Here are the five primary levels of automation:
- Level 1: Driver Assistance – At this level, the vehicle monitors the performance of certain systems and automates their inputs to reduce the driver’s task load. This can be as simple as a vehicle equipped with cruise control.
- Level 2: Partial Automation – At this level, the vehicle begins to have some input on driving operations, such as lane correction or automatic braking. Importantly, the human driver is still fully monitoring the vehicle’s operations and remains in active control at all times.
- Level 3: Conditional Automation – At this level, the vehicle is capable of detecting the environment around it and assumes control for most driving operations. Human presence and attention is still required, and the human driver is capable of assuming control at any time.
- Level 4: High Automation – At this level the vehicle performs all driving tasks, forming a complete picture of the environment around it and assuming responsibility for even edged cases and unusual scenarios. Direct human attention is not required. There are no Level 4 autonomous trucks on the road today, but numerous companies are working on their development and deployment.
- Level 5: Full Automation – At this level the vehicle drives solely on its own, with no human interaction or attention. Level 5 automation remains a distant goal, but if and when it is achieved, the impacts on our society will be profound.
There are multiple companies testing autonomous vehicles, slowly pushing their systems up through the automation levels. Often consumer-facing projects, such as autonomous ride shares, get the most headlines. But the first impact of autonomous vehicles is likely to be in the trucking industry.
Why will the trucking industry adopt autonomous vehicles first?
The trucking industry can benefit enormously from vehicles operating at lower levels of automation. For the average consumer, level 2 or 3 automation might be a neat quirk, but it still requires the driver to always pay full attention, ready to take over for any errors in the vehicle’s systems. Average consumers unlock far greater benefits when automation reaches level 4, and they can turn their attention to other tasks (or even take a nap!) while the vehicle is being driven.
By contrast, operating trucks at levels 2 and 3 offers substantial advantages to shippers. Controlling speed and accounting for terrain can reduce fuel costs, and increased safety measures can substantially reduce a company’s liability. Spread across a nationwide fleet, these advantages are substantial.
Experts predict that the first level 4 vehicles will be used to form a “hub and network” system, where autonomous trucks deliver goods between established hubs on pre-planned, thoroughly mapped routes. Human drivers would then disperse the goods throughout the community. This allows autonomous vehicles to handle thousands of routine, predictable highway miles while human drivers handle the “last-mile” portion of delivery. This includes the infinite possibilities drivers encounter once they exit the highway, such as one-way streets, pedestrians, driveways, etc.
The trucking industry is racing to viability
The potential benefits of autonomous trucking have created stiff competition within the trucking industry, as multiple companies race to produce a viable product.
- The Waymo Via is one of the most advanced examples, with semi-autonomous trucks on the road today in several major American cities.
- TuSimple has also conducted a fleet of simple tests with a fully autonomous trucking system.
- The Tesla Semi is aiming to bridge the gap to full self-driving status by offering vehicles with semi-autonomous capabilities. Since it is also all-electric, the Tesla Semi seeks to combine multiple efficiencies and improve the overall logistics of the truck-based supply chain.
One may wonder if infrastructure is in place for all-electric semi-trucks on our highways. Currently, efforts are underway to create charging depots near ports and major trucking corridors. For example, Voltera built a 65-charger depot that can serve up to 200 trucks at once. There are also patent-pending systems being tested for wireless electrical charging beds, among other options. It is a rapidly evolving technology.
Autonomous driving trucks and their impact on personal injury litigation
Autonomous trucks are likely to alter the legal landscape significantly. What happens when an autonomous vehicle causes or contributes to a crash?
If a defect in the automation systems contributed to the crash, manufacturers could be held liable. Litigating these cases in the future will likely involve a close analysis of data and software, determining exactly how and where the complex automated systems made a mistake.
It is important to note that some aspects of trucking litigation will be less affected. Driver error is a significant contributor to trucking crashes, but improper maintenance, faulty equipment, inadequate inspections, and other failures all contribute as well. These issues will only be magnified and highlighted by reduced driver responsibility for truck operations.
New regulations will likely be necessary to address the fundamentally altered state of transportation and the new reality of automated trucking.
A changing landscape
Autonomous trucks are not yet ready to take over the streets. But before you know it, you may encounter one on the highway. Even today, almost any truck you encounter will operate with autonomous systems at level 2 or 3.
If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer, you will need an expert to navigate the shifting legal landscape and determine how the truck’s automated systems may have affected the crash. Even if those systems did not play a direct role, they are certain to have captured data crucial to your case.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a trucking accident through no fault of your own, contact the experienced abogados de camiones at Allen & Allen. Our free and confidential case evaluations are designed to ensure every aspect of your case is handled correctly, and that your rights are protected. Call today at 866-388-1307.
