What will replace truck drivers?
Isabella Harris
Updated on January 10, 2026
Amid a severe driver shortage, a new study says 90% of long-haul trucking could be replaced by self-driving technology.
Will autonomous trucks replace truck drivers?
Autonomous trucks could one day replace more than 90% of all highway trucking, which could have a profound impact on as many as 500,000 long-haul truckers, a new study found. Why it matters: Automation, and its potential impact on human labor, is a widespread concern for workers in many industries.What is the future outlook for truck driver?
Job OutlookEmployment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 231,100 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Will truck driving disappear?
Therefore, the partial automation will still need the driver to be present, meaning that the truck driving jobs won't disappear anytime soon. The companies that aim for level 4 automation want to reduce labor costs. However, this will be used for long-haul rides and isn't feasible for short distances.Will there be self-driving semi trucks?
Last year, Tesla revealed plans for its own autonomous truck called Semi, which relies on battery power and has a range of up to 500 miles. Meanwhile, Daimler, one of the world's largest trucking companies, has announced a $573 million investment in self-driving trucks.Are autonomous trucks going to replace truck drivers?
How soon will driverless trucks be on the road?
Tame said that Aurora is targeting a driverless commercial launch by the end of 2023. And while almost all public testing of robotic trucks includes a safety driver and engineer or another monitor in the cab, Tame said the road to success for his company and fleets is driverless.Who is developing self-driving trucks?
An overview of the major self-driving trucking companies.
- Aurora (shown above) Few companies have been busier than Aurora in 2021. ...
- Einride. ...
- Embark Trucks. ...
- Gatik. ...
- Kodiak Robotics. ...
- Locomation. ...
- Plus. ...
- Pronto.