Self-driving trucks have been on the radar for a long time, but the technology is rapidly advancing. Australian fleets are expected to be early adopters due to the tyranny of distance.
New research from Teletrac Navman reveals that nearly half of Australian fleets believe autonomous trucks will have an undeniable presence in the transport industry in the next 10 years. These will be most prevalent for the long haul, inter/intrastate routes to start with.
40% of respondents (fleet managers and transport operators) perceived cost reduction to be the top benefit of autonomous vehicle use. This is followed by safety (39%) and efficiency (29%). While all benefits won’t be realised until the technology comes fully into play, 58% see autonomous vehicle technology benefiting their business. Fleets running interstate routes also identified the potential to see the biggest reduction in costs benefits offered by autonomous trucks.
Andrew Rossington, Vice President Transtech – a division of Teletrac Navman, said, “Autonomous vehicle technology is evolving at a rapid pace, with expected timeframes for adoption in Australia continuing to shift. As the technology becomes more commonplace, it will significantly impact costs, safety, and operational efficiency across the road freight transport sector.”
{loadposition ray}
ACA Research conducted this research with the intention to explore the perceptions of self-driving trucks, expected timeframes for adoption and the likely benefits for transport operators with fleets of all shapes and sizes.
“While self-driving trucks have been on the radar for a long time, transport operators will need to understand how it could impact their business. Driver safety and operational efficiency remain key concerns for all businesses. Autonomous vehicles may be a few years away, yet we will continue to see the implementation and incremental use of the technology, which will significantly help tackle these challenges,” said Rossington.
Early adopters are likely to include mining haulage, garbage and refuse pickup (set routes), public transport, fuel and food delivery. In May 2015, Daimler’s Freightliner Inspiration Truck became the world's first autonomous truck to be granted a licence for road use in the State of Nevada.
