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This is an interesting sort of career path for people. A hundred years ago there was no such thing as a long-haul trucker, the only reliable way to get goods ov

This is an interesting sort of career path for people. A hundred years ago there was no such thing as a long-haul trucker, the only reliable way to get goods over vast distances was train if there was tracks or boat if there were navigable waterways. Through the 1950s trucking became a force to recon with, and these days with seemingly everyone moving to zero-inventory systems it requires a degree of flexibility that rail can't afford. Still, you have to wonder how many horse and buggy drivers were put out of business by long-haul truckers. A single motorized vehicle could do the work of twenty wagons which were probably the standard mode of transportation in many places until highways emerged. Self-driving is just the next step.

edko 10y ago
However, the effect this next step can have on the overall economy can be disastrous. Not only is truck driver the most common profession, with their unemployment creating hardships for millions of families, and the families of industries related to truck driving, but also the knock on effect that will have. Imagine all those families spending less, creating recession, lay-offs, and bankruptcies in every industry. It could be more disastrous than the housing crisis.
- astrodust 10y ago
  It will have a pretty major impact on things, but then again, so did switching from wagons to diesel trucks. How many people making horse shoes and buggies went bankrupt? How many people were there that used to deal with the horses, with the carriages, with selling goods and services to people? The efficiencies gained by long-distance hauling being practical made entirely new industries possible. So long as this automated transport enables new business opportunities that require labour it will be a positive thing. If this is robotic trucks driving goods to robotic factories with products designed by robots, then we're screwed.
  - flukus 10y ago
    And how much social upheaval was there? Enough to kill off a good chunk of the working population.

edko 10y ago

However, the effect this next step can have on the overall economy can be disastrous. Not only is truck driver the most common profession, with their unemployment creating hardships for millions of families, and the families of industries related to truck driving, but also the knock on effect that will have. Imagine all those families spending less, creating recession, lay-offs, and bankruptcies in every industry. It could be more disastrous than the housing crisis.

astrodust 10y ago
It will have a pretty major impact on things, but then again, so did switching from wagons to diesel trucks. How many people making horse shoes and buggies went bankrupt? How many people were there that used to deal with the horses, with the carriages, with selling goods and services to people? The efficiencies gained by long-distance hauling being practical made entirely new industries possible. So long as this automated transport enables new business opportunities that require labour it will be a positive thing. If this is robotic trucks driving goods to robotic factories with products designed by robots, then we're screwed.
- flukus 10y ago
  And how much social upheaval was there? Enough to kill off a good chunk of the working population.