this post was submitted on 01 May 2024
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[–] [email protected] 49 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (4 children)

If this were to come to pass, it would be a massive hit to the middle class. Truckers make up a HUGE part of the American middle class work force.

Also consider the economic impact to all of the gas stations and rest stops created primarily to service them, a huge amount of infrastructure exists to service truckers. That said, many could convert for autonomous service needs? I expect it to be a net loss for them also. RIP Loves?

And from a technical point of view, it's a lesser challenge than generalized self-driving because point A and B are already known for each route, so more of the route could be "hardcoded" (not actually hardcoded but I think you get the concept).

That said, I can't predict the timeline of when this would be feasible, but when it happens I expect it will cause a lot of anger from truckers.

Anyway, the jist of my comment, this will route a substantial amount of middle class wages from the truckers to the truck owners, increasing inequality even further.

This is the biggest catalyst to sway the public toward a UBI than anything else I can imagine.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Hmm, they do have a union. It wouldn't surprise me if they push to put some rules in place about requiring a driver in the cab for safety.

Which wouldn't even be a stretch, really. Heavy loads are dangerous, and I don't think people have a lot of faith in autonomous vehicles right now.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Kinda like how planes are 95% automated these days, but we still keep two highly skilled and well paid pilots in board in case of emergency.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Planes carry passengers though, not cargo... although you could technically fly a pilotless cargo plane... eh, better not, forget you read that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I once lived in a town that if you want to be an uber driver you also legally needed to be a current taxi driver. Kinda completely missed the point. Though I did like how the taxi drivers couldn't screw me.

I hated that town though.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (9 children)

But on the flip side, you also have to consider how much cheaper, well, literally everything, will be when it doesn't cost $30 an hour to move a product from one place to another?

Everything will cost so much less that Universal Basic Income wouldn't need to be anywhere near as high as it is right now to be "living wage".

Like it or not - self driving trucks are coming. We need to find a way to adjust to that. The timeline for when is probably not "when will the tech be ready" but rather "when will society be ready". I'm pretty sure if you deployed self driving trucks today, pitchforks would come out and those trucks would be blocked by civil disobedience.

Slow it down too much though, and you'll put your whole economy at a global disadvantage. A first would country could easily become a third world one by refusing to allow autonomous trucks. Autonomous trucks already exist and not just on pristine highways — for example they're used on mine sites with no roads at all — https://thewest.com.au/business/mining/bhp-autonomous-trucks-collide-at-jimblebar-iron-ore-mine-in-pilbara-ng-b881139676z

[–] [email protected] 31 points 11 months ago

Nothing will be cheaper. It'll go to profits.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 11 months ago

Everything will cost so much less that Universal Basic Income wouldn’t need to be anywhere near as high as it is right now to be “living wage”.

Assuming companies would pass the saving to their customers, which is usually not the case these days.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

Remember when prices went down when self checkout became a thing everywhere?

I dont.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago

Oh you sweet summer child. There is zero chance that the cost savings will be passed on to consumers. In fact, I'll bet prices go up after an initial plateau.

At first, profits will rise due to the lack of $30/hr costs - and shareholders will celebrate the innovation.

Then when the migration to self-driving semis is complete and that profit levels out, shareholders will be pissed that the profits don't continue to rise - so prices will rise again.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

But on the flip side, you also have to consider how much cheaper, well, literally everything, will be

No, it is not true. Trucks are big. In total, transportation is dead cheap.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

When has the price of anything ever come down?

I've been around for quite some time now, and I've seen things get pretty damn advanced, but not once have I EVER seen the prices of something go down.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

It doesn't cost much to have a driver as compared to the value amd volume of product. The expense is the fuel.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Those mining trucks don't have to deal with Altimas.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

But of course! Trickle down economy at work! /s

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yeah, but think of the amount of damage that happens due to accidents where trucks are involved. If that can be substantially reduced it would be a huge win. We're talking about thousands of lives saved each year.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Spoiler: It's not near

PS: lets try everything but trains huh

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

A badly written "PS", sorry 😂

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Production, most likely

[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Can't wait to see these driverless trucks on an icy highway during a blinding snowstorm where a massive pile-up of vehicles has already occurred. /s

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Don't forget 70mph winds blowing across the highway in the Plains states too.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 months ago

The first time I saw a version of this article was the summer of 1993.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Capitalists will profit not just from destroying the planet but also from murdering individuals along the way.

Just build trains.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I've heard this so many times... It's now like the cure for cancer we find every 6 months

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure we are making progress but I'm tired of "just around the corner" meaning 15 years down the road.

We don't yet have fully self driving trains, on tracks, I can't believe trucks will be first

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

On your last point, we do. The Unions just push against them due to jobs being lost.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago

This is a terrible idea.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

what happens when theres an emergency or a crash?

Until roadways are incredibly safe and cars are far more reliable it doesn't make sense to allow driverless cars on the road. sure, right now these trucks are new and people are worried about selling more. But as soon as this is allowed the race to the bottom begins and you have a company operating a fleet of unmaintained driverless trucks.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

I too have a bridge to sell you. You know it's great because I've successfully sold the same one a thousand times for the past decade already!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

How many people does Tesla's "auto Pilot" needs to kill before tech bros realize hasting this isn't gonna work?

You could only really have automated trucks if the roads used were prepared for that - and even then you'd have issues with edge-cases.

Trains anyone?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

sounds like the movie Swordfish.

"how many innocent victims splattered across the wall does it take"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Seriously, why aren't we just using rail?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Will they use this new battery tech I heard about?