Self driving Sleeper/Feeder Trucks
- Thread starter Pupkorn
- Start date
Jakamoe
I work for teamsters, UPS contracted me
I'm not sure if it will happen with UPS for a long time. The self driving would have to be perfect. Too much liability for accidents, UPS hates bad press. We would still have humans on the roads and you can look up times self driving fails that got into crashes because other humans are still on the road.
Self driving still requires a driver. I don't see the US allowing completely driverless cars in our life times. UPS is still 20 years behind all the safety features that can be used now. Lane assist, automatic stops for backing and intersections etc. These technologies exist and have for a while, buy they're not on our trucks.
The range on all electric vehicles still require recharges. That requires a person. The technology has gotten better but I cannot see a battery lasting 2000 miles before it needs to be recharged. Not soon anyway.
What I do see UPS doing sooner is using all electric vehicles for package delivery, maybe sleepers/feeders. But they would still require drivers. Our current tech is amazing, but its nowhere near perfect.
While it may be coming eventually, I'm not convinced it will happen in our careers or maybe even our lifetime.
Self driving still requires a driver. I don't see the US allowing completely driverless cars in our life times. UPS is still 20 years behind all the safety features that can be used now. Lane assist, automatic stops for backing and intersections etc. These technologies exist and have for a while, buy they're not on our trucks.
The range on all electric vehicles still require recharges. That requires a person. The technology has gotten better but I cannot see a battery lasting 2000 miles before it needs to be recharged. Not soon anyway.
What I do see UPS doing sooner is using all electric vehicles for package delivery, maybe sleepers/feeders. But they would still require drivers. Our current tech is amazing, but its nowhere near perfect.
While it may be coming eventually, I'm not convinced it will happen in our careers or maybe even our lifetime.
freehoodies
Well-Known Member
I think self driving on freeways might be sooner than we think, esp if they put in designated lanes for trucks. But humans will still be required for a long time. Too many unknown unknowns, things humans are great at but AI not so much.
We can make an AI learn within a tightly defined set of parameters, but real life is messier than a simulation.
We can make an AI learn within a tightly defined set of parameters, but real life is messier than a simulation.
All the new tractors come standard with lane assist, automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. A lot of the older tractors have been retrofitted with those features. Would not be surprised to see sleeper teams being replaced with self driving trucks in the next 5-10 years.
DriveInDriѵeOut
Inordinately Right
All of our tractors have been retrofitted with the Bendix adaptive cruise and auto braking.
Almost all of them no longer work, and as a result neither does cruise control. Couple hundred miles without cruise control is pretty g*damn annoying.
If that's any indication of how well all this new technology will work I'm not too concerned.
quad decade guy
Well-Known Member
LOLOLOLOLOL.
5-10 years?
BTW....we have this technology right now! Trains! Why in the heck would we put slow moving driverless trucks on the road coast to coast? I can see bullet freight trains before flying or any fantasy crap. A train has one guy running hundreds of trailers and could probably get rid of him? The rail yards are remotely piloted now. California has been trying to get high speed rail but is too stupid to make it happen. Get liberals/democrats out of the way and make some progress. Texas is in the planning stage now. Think about it: even 250 mph trains or heck even averaging 100 mph over 55 mph in say California. I am a sleeper driver. Cutting my own throat. Yes. In my lifetime? Say 25 more years? Probably not. Hell, it will be in court that long in California.
Yeet
Not gonna let ‘em catch the Midnight Rider
If by lane assist you mean that annoying buzzer that goes off when you vacate your lane without a turn signal, then yes. My personal vehicle will actually jerk you back in your lane and that would be completely unsafe in a tractor. As far as auto braking goes, I have no idea since I don’t run up on people to find out. We do have adaptive cruise that will back you off if you get within 4 seconds of following distance.
Staydryitsraining
Well-Known Member
They have been doing driverless loads with ups for at least a year around AZ. As soon as regulation hurdles are jumped dont expect feeders to hire much more.
Johney
Pineapple King
You don't need to run up on people to find this out. All it takes is for someone to cut across your path like that
who wants to make the exit from the far left lane. The sad thing about it is the tractor will brake hard when in reality they had plenty of time to cut across your path and make the exit without needing to brake.
Yeet
Not gonna let ‘em catch the Midnight Rider
Yeah ours don’t brake unless you have the cruise set. If someone cuts you off with your foot on the gas the alarm just beeps like crazy.You don't need to run up on people to find this out. All it takes is for someone to cut across your path like that
ManInBrown
Well-Known Member
6 jobs cancelled last week because of this. Voluntary layoff list also posted.
ManInBrown
Well-Known Member
Huh? They brake really hard even when not on cruise. Only happened to me once but I definitely was not using cruise control. New KW. Scared the sheet out of me.
Yeet
Not gonna let ‘em catch the Midnight Rider
Not in my experience. I drive the Macks though. I’ll leave those KW’s to you old timers with bad knees.
silenze
Lunch is the best part of the day
This happened to me with a set of rough train tracks. Freightliner came to a complete stop. No cruise.
I have had trucks that flash collision alert for overhead signs. Or pick up cars in other lanes. cars on an exit ramp everytime.
This is in perfect weather. Throw some rain or snow in the mix an the system is worthless
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Faceplanted
Well-Known Member
There are different methods of determine objects or hazards in the road. Most current systems are very crude. They have been running 100% automated loads in the west for a couple years already. As stated, once regulations are figured out, this can be implemented within a few years.
Brownslave688
You want a toe? I can get you a toe.
Thoughts are not to recommend the job to anyone new because it’ll be here before they retire
