Driver-less vehicles may soon exists, but the trucking industry will continue to thrive.
It’s only been a few years since Uber came along and changed transportation as we know. While the GPS-based mobile phone application continues to prove the most popular in major cities, many people across the US (and in many other countries, with growing numbers) have come to depend on its services to provide their primary means to work and school. It was only a matter of time before the successful start-up company found its way into the freight and trucking arena. So this poses the question, how will Uber’s increasingly-popular method of transportation change trucking life for those who spend most of their life out on the road?
Uber and It’s Partner
Although all facets of the trucking industry would adapt to the possible changes that the Uber template could bring, it’s good to know that they’re not alone. Only last year, they acquired Otto, a self-driving truck start-up company that is being used as Uber’s template. Otto itself is a mid-sized technology startup company primarily focusing on automatic driving technology and the trucking life, aiming to pave the way toward self-driving trucks. Although the start-up got its start in early 2016, its co-founder, Anthony Levandowski, has already developed a self-driving motorcycle, which is now part of the Smithsonian Institution’s collection. Other Otto employees hail from tech and automotive giants such as Google, Apple, and Tesla.
What’s In the Cards For Trucking
By acquiring Otto, Uber has the potential to impact the trucking industry in many ways. If autonomous trucks become the norm, the new technology could have an effect on many truckers’ jobs. In 2014, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that nearly 1.8 million drivers worked in the trucking industry. Over the next decade, the BLS projects that the job market will grow by nearly 100,000 positions.
Self-driving trucks could cut job growth and result in a decline in the trucking job market, unless the new business template incorporates experienced truckers into comparable positions. But, Uber’s proposed plans could also result in positive outcomes for trucking life, too. In fact, Otto’s vision of its autonomous technology includes truck drivers. In addition to allowing drivers more flexibility and improving their wellness on the road, Otto’s technology proposes that its autonomous technology will help drivers increase their efficiency, improve their reliability, better their safety record, and potentially enhance their paychecks. In addition, the data that Otto gathers while drivers are on the road will improve the route for future drivers.
For All Your Trucking Needs
Follow us here at Evan Transportation to get more updates on driving tips and the trucking industry. Evan Transportation provides trucking and transportation services for clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. All of our drivers and staff are offered competitive salaries, benefits, and are guaranteed to be home every day. Interested in finding out more? Visit us online or give us a call at 443-673-3365. For even more information, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google+.