One unintended side effect of automated trucks may be pushing more long-haul freight to rail. Fuel and driver's salary are the biggest expenses in operating a truck -- remove the driver's salary and fuel becomes the dominant expense. Right now, rail is around 4 times more efficient than trucks, so if fuel is your dominant expense, moving to rail makes more sense.
Of course, self-driving trucks could help with truck fuel efficiency by driving at a more fuel-efficient speed, and they may be deemed safe enough to haul more trailers behind a single truck. Though whether or not human drivers (even if their cars drive themselves) will put up with a 4 trailer 40mph truck on the freeway is a different question.
Of course, self-driving trucks could help with truck fuel efficiency by driving at a more fuel-efficient speed, and they may be deemed safe enough to haul more trailers behind a single truck. Though whether or not human drivers (even if their cars drive themselves) will put up with a 4 trailer 40mph truck on the freeway is a different question.