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Impact of automation on long haul trucking operator-hours in the United States

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  • Aniruddh Mohan

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Parth Vaishnav

    (Carnegie Mellon University
    University of Michigan)

Abstract

Automated long haul trucking is being developed for commercial deployment in the United States. One possible mode of deployment for this technology is a “transfer-hub” model where the operationally less complex highway driving is automated, while human drivers drive the more complex urban segment of the route. We study the possible net impacts on tractor-trailer operator-hours from this mode of deployment. Using data from the 2017 Commodity Flow Survey, we gather information on trucking shipments and the operator-hours required to fulfill those shipments. We find that up to 94% of long haul trucking operator-hours may be impacted as the technology improves to operate in all weather conditions. If the technology is however restricted to the southern states where the majority of companies are currently testing automated trucking, we find that only 10% of operator-hours are impacted. We conduct interviews with industry stakeholders including tractor-trailer operators on the feasibility of such a system of deployment. We find that an increase in short haul operation is unlikely to compensate for the loss in long haul operator-hours, despite public claims to this effect by the developers of the technology. Policymakers should consider the impact of different scenarios of deployment on the long haul trucking workforce.

Suggested Citation

  • Aniruddh Mohan & Parth Vaishnav, 2022. "Impact of automation on long haul trucking operator-hours in the United States," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:9:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-022-01103-w
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01103-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Caspersen, Elise & Ørving, Tale & Tennøy, Aud, 2023. "Capacity reduction on urban main roads: How truck drivers adapted, and what effects and consequences they experienced," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 68-83.
    2. Schuster, Amy M. & Agrawal, Shubham & Britt, Noah & Sperry, Danielle & Van Fossen, Jenna A. & Wang, Sicheng & Mack, Elizabeth A. & Liberman, Jessica & Cotten, Shelia R., 2023. "Will automated vehicles solve the truck driver shortages? Perspectives from the trucking industry," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Chowdhury, Tufayel & Vaughan, James & Roorda, Matthew J., 2024. "Modeling impacts of freight automated vehicles in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    4. Jack Stilgoe & Miloš Mladenović, 2022. "The politics of autonomous vehicles," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-6, December.

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