FINAL DESTINATION

Driverless Trucks Ready to Hit the Road in Texas

Terrifyingly, trucking companies are hoping to “pull the driver” completely and go autonomous by 2026.

A fleet of driverless trucks is set to hit the road in Texas after being cleared for use on a stretch of highway on the I-45 between Dallas and Houston. Autonomous fleets have been testing the waters on Texas highways for a number of years now, but have always had a driver sitting in the cab in case of emergencies. But after years of development, industry leader Aurora Innovation says it is ready to go public with its fully driverless vehicles in a shakeup that could revolutionize the trucking industry. At least 10 companies are believed to be developing driverless trucking fleets, with many looking to “pull the driver” and go fully autonomous by 2026. But critics have hit back at the cybersecurity threats, job reductions, and lack of federal regulations associated with the fleets. Lewie Pugh, vice president of the Independent Drivers Association, said: “It’s absurd that AVs, which are unproven and unmanned, are given more latitude on American highways than professional drivers with years of experience like me.”