The demand for self-driving cars has been ever rising in recent years. Many factors go into this demand, including convenience and safety. Yet, many forget one other factor – the effect self-driving technology can have on a business.
Developing alongside self-driving cars is the concept of self-driving trucks. The economy is still heavily reliant on trucks as a delivery method for necessary products. With that in mind, it becomes easier to see how having a fleet of self-driving trucks may be appealing to businesses.
According to experts, about seventy percent of all goods are delivered via trucks, generating billions of dollars for the economy. However, the venture is not without cost. Truck upkeep and driver wages are not insignificant.
It is believed that the cost of maintaining a self-driving truck would be less than the combined cost of maintenance and pay for a standard truck. Additionally, drivers can only legally drive so many hours in a day, where a self-driving truck would not have those issues.
The potential for increased profits is there – and businesses want in. Kodiak Robotics, Waymo, Volvo, Tesla, Embark, and TU Simple are all working hard to develop their own versions of self-driving trucks.
As with the need to develop self-driving cars for consumer safety, there is a safety concern for self-driving trucks. According to Professor Robert W. Peterson of the Center for Insurance Law and Regulation at Santa Clara University School of Law, over ninety percent of accidents are caused by user error.
Businesses are hoping to increase the overall safety of the roads – and their employees – by switching to self-driving trucks. It will also reduce the wear and tear that drivers must go through.
More companies than ever are experimenting with self-driving technology as a way of doing business. For example, Amazon spent some time considering this (along with drones) as a delivery method.
Now, Domino’s is testing out their own form of automated delivery: Nuro. Their goal is to have deliveries be easy, safe, and an overall enhanced experience for customers. However, not many customers will enjoy this particular experience right now, as it is still limited.
Walmart is another company testing the waters of self-driving technology. They’ve joined forces with Argo AI and Ford Motor to try and create a new form of a home delivery system. If it works, it will revolutionize the way people shop (and receive their goods).