5 ms·

How do you figure? I don't believe there's been any interstate testing of automated driving on freeways with human drivers, let alone a standardized legal frame

by duaneb 10y ago

How do you figure? I don't believe there's been any interstate testing of automated driving on freeways with human drivers, let alone a standardized legal framework that would enable end-to-end automation.

stcredzero 10y ago
Have you seen logistics centers in Texas? They are often out in the middle of nowhere, often with dead-easy access to the highway. Automating driving in those conditions would be much easier. If nothing else, one could have "pilots" guide the trucks by remote control for the last mile.
- duaneb 10y ago
  My point was that it's not technology that will be the hard part, it's legality and unions.
  - stcredzero 10y ago
    If there are no employees, what say will the unions have?
    - duaneb 10y ago
      There are far from no employees with about 3.5 million truck drivers in the US. A company cannot operate an automated commercial service today because there is no licensing system for driverless trucks. The unions aren't going to allow legalization of automated truck driving with that many jobs on the line. You're not providing any argument for the ease of legalization here.
      - stcredzero 10y ago
        The unions aren't going to allow legalization of automated truck driving with that many jobs on the line. The unions can only have direct leverage with companies that currently employ truckers and those that work closely with those companies. All it takes is for one tech company that doesn't fit into the above category to develop the technology, then the market will make the licensing of such devices inevitable. You thought you were giving a clever rejoinder. However, I was specifically talking about companies that don't directly employ large numbers of truck drivers. Then it comes down to the economic power of the companies that operate the trucks versus the economic power of the companies that have to pay the trucking companies. The latter is going to win the lobbying contest by sheer size.
        deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]

by duaneb 10y ago

stcredzero 10y ago

Have you seen logistics centers in Texas? They are often out in the middle of nowhere, often with dead-easy access to the highway. Automating driving in those conditions would be much easier. If nothing else, one could have "pilots" guide the trucks by remote control for the last mile.

duaneb 10y ago
My point was that it's not technology that will be the hard part, it's legality and unions.
- stcredzero 10y ago
  If there are no employees, what say will the unions have?
  - duaneb 10y ago
    There are far from no employees with about 3.5 million truck drivers in the US. A company cannot operate an automated commercial service today because there is no licensing system for driverless trucks. The unions aren't going to allow legalization of automated truck driving with that many jobs on the line. You're not providing any argument for the ease of legalization here.
    - stcredzero 10y ago
      The unions aren't going to allow legalization of automated truck driving with that many jobs on the line. The unions can only have direct leverage with companies that currently employ truckers and those that work closely with those companies. All it takes is for one tech company that doesn't fit into the above category to develop the technology, then the market will make the licensing of such devices inevitable. You thought you were giving a clever rejoinder. However, I was specifically talking about companies that don't directly employ large numbers of truck drivers. Then it comes down to the economic power of the companies that operate the trucks versus the economic power of the companies that have to pay the trucking companies. The latter is going to win the lobbying contest by sheer size.
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]