No technology will automate away more jobs — or drive more economic efficiency — than the driverless truck, according to Ryan Peterson of techcrunch.com.
One of the main advantages of driverless truck, from a cost perspective is the ability of these trucks to operate 24 hours a day. “This would effectively double the output of the U.S,” says Peterson when considering that labor represents 75% of the trucking cost.
Truckers number more than 1.6 million in American making it the most common job in 29 states.
The loss of jobs representing 1% of the U.S. workforce will be a devastating blow to the economy. And the adverse consequences won’t end there. Gas stations, highway diners, rest stops, motels and other businesses catering to drivers will struggle to survive without them, Peterson writes.
Read more on the economics of driverless trucks.
