[BinaryIdiot]

Would it though? If the truck can drive hundreds of miles on the highway then initially maybe you're right because they'll just sit in the cab but, eventually, they won't be in the cabs anymore. If they're being paid by the mile then that's a significant cut of the miles and therefore pay.

[boodm]

Not to ask a silly question, but how does an auto-pilot truck (w/ no driver) get fuel? If there will be a service that provides fuel to driverless trucks, how will the business (who owns the truck) verify the PPG and gallons loaded?

[semi-extrinsic]

That's an easy problem to solve. Either using fully automated pumps, or truck stops with employees. Truck presents billing info/company credit card to pump/employee, they verify card, fill up truck with N gallons, truck also measures gallons loaded, pump bills truck with specification of gallons loaded. If the pump and truck numbers disagree, handle it like any other billing discrepancy.

[jaf656s]

If you are a large fleet with many trucks, it would probably be cheaper to hire employees at the truck stops (or manage your own fuel depots) to just pump fuel all day for the automated trucks on the automated routes.

Then you could have a small number of vehicles, or small companies could pop up to serve this role, that refuel automated trucks that run out and stop driving outside those automated routes (if this is even a concern).

If you are eliminating 80%+ of trucker salaries, you have a lot of money to work with.

[ryanlol]

Latency isn't a problem that can simply be solved, moving drivers out of cabs might not be feasible as long as there's any need for them.

[dmix]

Then that is a matter of technical progress. But Otto can still offer the drivers some value in the meantime. Who knows how many yrs it will be until it is fully automated?

Or do you think they will benefit from resisting all forms of automation? I doubt it will slow down the eventual outcome, which is pretty much set in stone already. But maybe I'm wrong.