Volvo: Computers will soon replace truckers
MOBILITY OF THE FUTURE. Volvo has now presented its study of a so-called robot truck. This is an innovative transport solution that is intended to make freight transport more efficient, safer and cleaner. And it can be done without truckers. The robot trucks, as the autonomously driving trucks are also called, do everything themselves: Assess the situation, steer, brake, accelerate. [...]
The robot trucks, as the autonomously driving trucks are also called, do everything themselves: Assessing the situation, steering, braking, accelerating. With the result that truckers will become superfluous in the long term.
There is still a long way to go before that happens. Until now, legislation has stipulated that even autonomous trucks must still have a driver on board who can intervene if necessary. This is not least because it has not yet been legally clarified who is liable if a vehicle of this type is involved in an accident.
Transport costs fall by almost half
However, experts are certain that this shortcoming will not slow down autonomous vehicles in the long term. After all, self-driving commercial vehicles offer too many advantages for the logistics industry. According to its latest study, for example, the strategy consulting firm Strategy& Deutschland assumes that digitization as well as automation of logistics processes and delivery vehicles will reduce logistics costs for standardized transports by 47 percent by 2030.
Autonimous trucks without drivers are the goal
According to the study, around 80 percent of these savings will be due to staff reductions in the transport and logistics sector: The computer replaces the trucker. Not to mention that at the end of the development planning for self-driving cars, the driverless vehicle is supposed to stand. According to the study, autonomous trucks will be able to drive 78 percent of the time from 2030 instead of the current 29 percent.
