Not really. The job would just change. We’d be more like pilots. The truck would do most of the work, we’d just be there to monitor things and handle the beginning and end of the trip.
I’ll worry when they automate pilots. Planes can already take off land and fly themselves autonomously and they still put two motherfuckers in that things.
This isn't really true. "Autopilot" is closer to cruise control in principal than generalized intelligence.
Also, the most important parts of aviation haven't been automated at all. "Stick and rudder" skills are practically secondary.
Aviation will likely be the last to be automated due to the risks and the fact the pilot is more of a problem solver and system debugger. Pulling over for help isn't an option when you're in the sky.
I think for all these transportation jobs, the first 90% is easy to automate, but it's the last 10 with the weird corner cases where it's really hard to replace a human's eye, experience, and intuition. Ultimately, the corporations and lawyers will decide if the gain of not needing to pay driver's is worth the deaths. Also, figuring out how issues are litigated needs to be determined as well.
I’m not much for flying. (SO to Madden & his awesome bus) I feel for folks who like flying tho. On the PA. “Little turbulence folks.” Followed by “Fasten seat belts. Brace for impact”. I mean dam they’ve had auto-pilot for how long…
Bad thing for automated (imo). We lose the number of folks who do it like routine (No effort. No guessing)
About 1,000 train crashes and 687 train derailments reported in 2025 in the U.S.
They can't even get trains to run autonomously and they stay on a track.
How many of those were the actual training malfunctioning and not idk a dumbass truck driver stuck on the tracks state some facts not speak out of your ass
I'll do you one better. I used to work for a railroad and am a driver now. Trains aren't going to be fully automated until they can figure out the liability issues whenever accidents happen. Once that's squared away, then I'd start worrying. Until then, there's a mountain of red tape to get over first, and anyone who knows anything about freight knows the heavier you are, the more climbing that mountain slows you down.
The infrastructure required for a driverless truck to do my job is years and years and years away, not to mention its cheaper to keep paying for hands on drivers rather than pay to automate it.
The retrofit diesel driverless trucks, maybe. Lawyers are rubbing their hands together though.
The driverless EV semis, no. The batteries weigh 5 tons and if they catch fire it takes more than half a day to put out. Thermal runaway is like fire that comes with its own wind. NTSB may call in aerial firefighters. Company would get the bill. Bad investment.
Nope, it'll be impossible for at least another 60 years.
There's no proper infrastructure, deliveries would be impossible given how small most zones are.
Plus the rollout would be very slow. Price and maintenance is unknown. Plus most of these companies are too fucking cheap to buy anything. I doubt they would buy those type of trucks day 1
It’s not as close as the doom scrollers would have you believe. That’s not to say it won’t happen. It’s coming, but all of this “5-10 years and your jobs are all gone” talk is bullshit.
Dispatch and planning has more to fear from AI than drivers, especially in the immediate future.
I’m curious where the liability will fall when these things crash. Carrier? Software developer? Truck manufacturer? All of them will be on the hook when there isn’t a driver to be the scapegoat.
I think they will take off eventually, but not for the forseeable future. Currently it works sometimes and it's kinda cool, but it's also a huge investment/risk. When your super efficient wageless robot truck can't drive in the winter because there are no longer lane lines to work with you have a problem. Now that super savvy investment will sit there for 3 months collecting dust. Eventually they'll take all our jobs, but that's a long ways off from now.
jabber1990@reddit
yes
DoctorZebra@reddit
Too much energy is wasted worrying about shit that's beyond your control.
danDotDev@reddit
No.
privatelyjeff@reddit
Not really. The job would just change. We’d be more like pilots. The truck would do most of the work, we’d just be there to monitor things and handle the beginning and end of the trip.
Rdtisgy1234@reddit
I’ll worry when they automate pilots. Planes can already take off land and fly themselves autonomously and they still put two motherfuckers in that things.
Superb-Photograph529@reddit
This isn't really true. "Autopilot" is closer to cruise control in principal than generalized intelligence.
Also, the most important parts of aviation haven't been automated at all. "Stick and rudder" skills are practically secondary.
Aviation will likely be the last to be automated due to the risks and the fact the pilot is more of a problem solver and system debugger. Pulling over for help isn't an option when you're in the sky.
I think for all these transportation jobs, the first 90% is easy to automate, but it's the last 10 with the weird corner cases where it's really hard to replace a human's eye, experience, and intuition. Ultimately, the corporations and lawyers will decide if the gain of not needing to pay driver's is worth the deaths. Also, figuring out how issues are litigated needs to be determined as well.
Savvi0@reddit
Good point
DieselPunk97@reddit
I’ll worry when they automate the TRAINS. This MF are on TRACKS and still require some MF in there.
WMDZipperbag@reddit
I’m not much for flying. (SO to Madden & his awesome bus) I feel for folks who like flying tho. On the PA. “Little turbulence folks.” Followed by “Fasten seat belts. Brace for impact”. I mean dam they’ve had auto-pilot for how long…
Bad thing for automated (imo). We lose the number of folks who do it like routine (No effort. No guessing)
WMDZipperbag@reddit
Basically some stuff could become like a “feature” that’s busted…
Captain_Wag@reddit
About 1,000 train crashes and 687 train derailments reported in 2025 in the U.S. They can't even get trains to run autonomously and they stay on a track.
Distinct-Event-7472@reddit
How many of those were the actual training malfunctioning and not idk a dumbass truck driver stuck on the tracks state some facts not speak out of your ass
disturbedrailroader@reddit
I'll do you one better. I used to work for a railroad and am a driver now. Trains aren't going to be fully automated until they can figure out the liability issues whenever accidents happen. Once that's squared away, then I'd start worrying. Until then, there's a mountain of red tape to get over first, and anyone who knows anything about freight knows the heavier you are, the more climbing that mountain slows you down.
icy_penguins@reddit
The infrastructure required for a driverless truck to do my job is years and years and years away, not to mention its cheaper to keep paying for hands on drivers rather than pay to automate it.
MantisShrimpUpTop@reddit
The retrofit diesel driverless trucks, maybe. Lawyers are rubbing their hands together though.
The driverless EV semis, no. The batteries weigh 5 tons and if they catch fire it takes more than half a day to put out. Thermal runaway is like fire that comes with its own wind. NTSB may call in aerial firefighters. Company would get the bill. Bad investment.
MiIarky22@reddit
Nope, it'll be impossible for at least another 60 years.
There's no proper infrastructure, deliveries would be impossible given how small most zones are.
Plus the rollout would be very slow. Price and maintenance is unknown. Plus most of these companies are too fucking cheap to buy anything. I doubt they would buy those type of trucks day 1
LastMongoose7448@reddit
It’s not as close as the doom scrollers would have you believe. That’s not to say it won’t happen. It’s coming, but all of this “5-10 years and your jobs are all gone” talk is bullshit.
Dispatch and planning has more to fear from AI than drivers, especially in the immediate future.
RarestCornet@reddit
I’m curious where the liability will fall when these things crash. Carrier? Software developer? Truck manufacturer? All of them will be on the hook when there isn’t a driver to be the scapegoat.
Goldleader-23@reddit
Ive seen them going between houston and dallas. Its definitely creepy
justdan76@reddit
Yes, I’m worried about them causing accidents and traffic jams.
I’m not worried about my job if that’s what you mean. I drive local and handle freight.
Beneficialsensai@reddit
NO!
Pm_Me_Mtn_Bikes@reddit
Owner op flatbed driver, I deliver to material to new builds then don’t even have built roads yet 😂 good luck delivering here.
Savvi0@reddit
Are you?
CA_Orange@reddit
No
RoadRatzzz@reddit
Not worried.....another 2 years and I'm done with this 💩 show anyways
Captain_Wag@reddit
I think they will take off eventually, but not for the forseeable future. Currently it works sometimes and it's kinda cool, but it's also a huge investment/risk. When your super efficient wageless robot truck can't drive in the winter because there are no longer lane lines to work with you have a problem. Now that super savvy investment will sit there for 3 months collecting dust. Eventually they'll take all our jobs, but that's a long ways off from now.
NarutoUchihaX14@reddit
Nope, they'll still need someone to blame when it does silly shit, so we won't be going anywhere for a long time
Cracka56@reddit
Personally no, I haul livestock
MssMoodi@reddit
That's a bot guys
Yadilie@reddit
No. They're going to be incredibly scrutinized and limited for years and then when one kills a family on vacation they'll be gutted.
Mechanik_J@reddit
Not really, if it happens it happens
Minimum-Jacket-705@reddit
Nope.
ShoebillJoe@reddit
I drive flatbed. No AI is taking my job any time soon.
Admirable_Lab_7867@reddit
As a group can we set up an auto moderator for these topics that get beat to death with a hammer every day?
___GRUMPY___@reddit
Not really. We been dealing with brain dead drivers for years. So not much of a difference.