Perceptions of trucking automation: Insights from the r/truckers community

Abstract

Recent technological advancements in automation have sparked interest in how automation will affect truck drivers and the trucking industry. However, there is a gap in the literature addressing how truck drivers perceive automation and how they believe it will impact trucking. This study aims to understand truck drivers' perspectives on automation in the trucking industry. Extending a preliminary study, we conducted a broader analysis of comments discussing automation in the r/Truckers subreddit from February 2017 to March 2021. In general, the community had negative sentiments towards automation in the trucking industry. Participants speculated when automation would become mainstream in trucking and discussed the feasibility of automation in the context of executing non-driving tasks and having accommodating infrastructure. Our findings indicate that truck drivers seek to participate in conversations about the future and to prepare themselves for when automation is more prominent in the trucking industry.