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Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

cnn.com

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Re: Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

#51

Post by somethoughts »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #48
somethoughts wrote: post #30

I feel like the ideal scenario would be to prioritize self driving truck at set times and set long haul freeways (i.e. Long Beach to Las Vegas or Galveston to Dallas) during the night time when there is no regular auto traffic - for example from 1 am-6 am. That way if a human driver is concerned, they can choose not to drive during this period of time. Perhaps run the trucks in a train style configuration where a "co…

> if a human driver is concerned, they can choose not to drive during this period of time Self-driving cars are currently proving safer than manually-piloted ones. There isn’t a good reason to segregate traffic like this. > what would stop a few cars passage in front of the truck and helping themselves to the cargo Why do you think a trucker would risk life or even their truck in a highway robbery?

Actually interestingly the primary benefit of doing this would actually be trucking companies. The AI software could probably work way better and have less liability if not having to deal with corner cases of irrational human drivers.

Unfettered access to 5 lanes of freeway.

Re: Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

#52

Post by EvanAnderson »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #46
EvanAnderson wrote: post #32

There's also a trial of "platooning" of driverless trucks on I-70 in Ohio and Indiana: https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardbishop1/2025/04/24/ease-... A "drivered" lead truck is leading one or more driverless trucks in this case. I drive the stretch of highway these trucks are on fairly regularly. I don't know that I've seen a group of them yet but I'm keeping my eye out. I'm probably just showing my age, but I like…

> A "drivered" lead truck is leading one or more driverless trucks in this case My bet is this goes nowhere. It’s a horseless carriage that doesn’t have enough time to pay itself back versus fully-automated platoons with remote back-up.

It seems like there's an aerodynamic advantage to the platoons. Placing an autonomous truck in the lead of one of these platoons, down the road, seems like a reasonable "upgrade" strategy.

Re: Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

#53

Post by [deleted] »

somethoughts wrote: post #51
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> if a human driver is concerned, they can choose not to drive during this period of time Self-driving cars are currently proving safer than manually-piloted ones. There isn’t a good reason to segregate traffic like this. > what would stop a few cars passage in front of the truck and helping themselves to the cargo Why do you think a trucker would risk life or even their truck in a highway robbery?

Actually interestingly the primary benefit of doing this would actually be trucking companies. The AI software could probably work way better and have less liability if not having to deal with corner cases of irrational human drivers. Unfettered access to 5 lanes of freeway.

[deleted]

Re: Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

#54

Post by JumpCrisscross »

EvanAnderson wrote: post #52
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A "drivered" lead truck is leading one or more driverless trucks in this case My bet is this goes nowhere. It’s a horseless carriage that doesn’t have enough time to pay itself back versus fully-automated platoons with remote back-up.

It seems like there's an aerodynamic advantage to the platoons. Placing an autonomous truck in the lead of one of these platoons, down the road, seems like a reasonable "upgrade" strategy.

> Placing an autonomous truck in the lead of one of these platoons, down the road, seems like a reasonable "upgrade" strategy

Sure. I just don’t see the time-to-market advantage of starting with a human lead outpacing the core technology advantage of being fully autonomous from the get go. (Counterpoint: Waymo using Uber to manage the front end in Atlanta.)

Re: Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

#56

Post by recursivedoubts »

EvanAnderson wrote: post #32

There's also a trial of "platooning" of driverless trucks on I-70 in Ohio and Indiana: https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardbishop1/2025/04/24/ease-... A "drivered" lead truck is leading one or more driverless trucks in this case. I drive the stretch of highway these trucks are on fairly regularly. I don't know that I've seen a group of them yet but I'm keeping my eye out. I'm probably just showing my age, but I like…

next level would be to hook these "platoons" together physically and then centralize the propulsion in a super efficient package. And then we could move them off the highways and onto specialized "tracks" that guarantee they don't deviate from the planned routes.

speculative, alien technology, admittedly, but some day our scientists will figure it out i bet!

Re: Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

#57

Post by lenerdenator »

porphyra wrote: post #7
lenerdenator wrote: post #5

Hmmmmm. So we're going to have a lot of people potentially unemployed because of this...

There's a national truck driver shortage, with a particular lack of young drivers [1]. Perhaps automation technology will become widespread just in time for the current generation of drivers to retire. [1] https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/worse-you-though...

"Why is this the case? Why are there so few women and young truck drivers? How can we get more of them behind the wheel?"

Well, it's like literally everything else.

Pay more.

Re: Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

#58

Post by ethbr1 »

recursivedoubts wrote: post #56
EvanAnderson wrote: post #32

There's also a trial of "platooning" of driverless trucks on I-70 in Ohio and Indiana: https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardbishop1/2025/04/24/ease-... A "drivered" lead truck is leading one or more driverless trucks in this case. I drive the stretch of highway these trucks are on fairly regularly. I don't know that I've seen a group of them yet but I'm keeping my eye out. I'm probably just showing my age, but I like…

next level would be to hook these "platoons" together physically and then centralize the propulsion in a super efficient package. And then we could move them off the highways and onto specialized "tracks" that guarantee they don't deviate from the planned routes. speculative, alien technology, admittedly, but some day our scientists will figure it out i bet!

Hmm. That sounds like it might lead to a monopolization of these tracks, as networks consolidate, and then ultimately evolve into a stagnant industry more focused on cutting costs than innovating...

Re: Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

#59

Post by insane_dreamer »

somethoughts wrote: post #42
insane_dreamer wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In other words, trains

Slight difference is that there are more lanes and there's dual usage (daytime - regular auto access, nighttime - truck train access). The benefit is to utilize existing access rights and infrastructure.

The freight rail network is fairly expansive[0] -- sure not as much as the Interstate road network, but has pretty good coverage.

The reason trucks are so popular and necessary is because they go beyond the interstate highways. Until self-driving trucks handle that portion safely and successfully, they're not much more useful than trains.

[0] https://external-preview.redd.it/VPeHZG0mzsNhJGAHJglxW1jn4Y0...

Re: Driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes

#60

Post by xracy »

ethbr1 wrote: post #58
recursivedoubts wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

next level would be to hook these "platoons" together physically and then centralize the propulsion in a super efficient package. And then we could move them off the highways and onto specialized "tracks" that guarantee they don't deviate from the planned routes. speculative, alien technology, admittedly, but some day our scientists will figure it out i bet!

Hmm. That sounds like it might lead to a monopolization of these tracks, as networks consolidate, and then ultimately evolve into a stagnant industry more focused on cutting costs than innovating...

I suspect that's why a competent government might invest more in these tracks as they might contribute a lot to delivery infrastructure. Especially in a consumer-based economy where shipping goods is important.
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