Trucking: Challenges, Safety and Automated Trucks

Chapter 1 reports on the current challenges faced by motor carriers, truck drivers, shippers, and brokers; and how these challenges impact safety, operations, jobs, and goods movement on our Nation's roads. Automated vehicle technology may eventually make commercial trucking more efficient and safer, but also has the potential to change the employment landscape for nearly 1.9 million heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, among others. GAO was asked to examine the potential workforce effects of automated trucking. Chapter 2 addresses (1) what is known about how and when automated vehicle technologies could affect commercial trucks; (2) what is known about how the adoption of automated trucks could affect the commercial trucking workforce; and (3) the extent to which DOT and DOL are preparing to assist drivers whose jobs may be affected.