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The introduction of driverless vehicles
may be nothing more than science
fiction in some people’s minds, but
the reality is that technology giants
across the globe, such as Google, are
investing heavily in developing the
concept. This shows that the concept
is closer to reality than people think.
Daimler, one of the world’s largest
manufacturers of trucks, recently
demonstrated a prototype truck
(pictured) which drove autonomously
on an autobahn in Germany. This truck
successfully navigated a junction in real
driving conditions. This demonstration
showed us just how real the
technology is. Daimler demonstrated
the truck as part of their ‘Future Truck
2025’ strategy. Trucks will be equipped
with their ‘Highway Pilot’ assistance
system which allows them to navigate
successfully at speeds up to 85km/h.
The introduction of driverless trucks
could be the biggest change the road
haulage industry will ever see. With that
in mind, let’s look at the driving force
behind driverless trucks. Throughout
Europe it is estimated that around
45% of the total cost for road haulage
operators is attributed to the driver. By
eventually removing the driver it would
obviously have a huge impact on road
haulage costs, margins and profits.
But there is no indication that this
technology will completely ‘replace’
drivers in the future. The technology
will instead be there as an aid to the
driver and help free up time for them to
work on other duties to maximize their
productivity.
Driver shortage
Another reason behind introducing
driverless trucks is the driver shortage
crisis. People seem more unwilling to
commit to a career as an HGV driver
due to many factors including the long
hours away from home, relatively low
pay, the poor image of the industry
and the working conditions. This will
soon translate in to higher costs for
haulage operators and their clients.
By removing most of the stress from
driving by leaving the important
decisions to a computer, the working
conditions should become much
more attractive. There could also be
the opportunity for the driver role to
change into a more enhanced role by
adding transport management duties
that could be completed during the
time periods the computer is in control.
Safety
The public will demand absolute
infallibility with this new technology.
It will need to be proven before any
driverless vehicle is allowed on the
motorways. Any operation involving
driverless vehicles on public roads
will need to be part of a much larger
system, a system that perhaps is not
quite a reality as of yet.
Congestion
One of the leading reasons for the heavy
investment in to this technology is the
potential increase in transport efficiency.
With road congestion predicted to
continue to rise in the near future there
is a real need to break the link between
economic growth and road transport.
German authorities have predicted that
truck transport volume will increase by
The 5 Driving Forces
behind Driverless Trucks
by Richard Newbold of Returnloads
39% by 2030 unless something is done
to stop it. The construction of new roads
is very unpopular with environmentalist
and many countries in Europe currently
do not have the funds available to pay
for that kind of extra road infrastructure.
Major road networks in Europe have
hardly grown in the last ten years and
that’s why it becomes essential to use
existing road capacity more efficiently.
Driverless vehicles can help aid in this
goal.
There have been major developments
with technology in terms of assisting
the driver. Daimler’s ‘Proximity Control
Assist’ will adapt the speed of the
vehicle depending on the traffic
situation through an integral cruise
control and braking system. Three-
dimensional maps already exist for a
‘Predictive Powertrain Control’ system
and telematics products for vehicle and
transport management for the driver
and operator have already been rolled
out. Vehicle manufacturers believe that
the driver will still be essential to the
driving process in the next ten years.
The technology will be there to assist
the driver rather than take their job.
24
Logistics Business Magazine | September 2015
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