UGPTI and NDMCA to Survey Members for Views on Autonomous Trucks

Posted: Apr 25, 2024

With growing interest in autonomous trucking, the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) at North Dakota State University is partnering with the NDMCA to better understand the views regarding this emerging technology held by motor carriers and others in related industries.

The survey, to be conducted in April, is part of a two-year project underway in North Dakota and funded with a grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Its purpose is to help prepare the state for the future use of autonomous trucks in rural areas (see article in the Winter 2024 issue of Rolling Along).

"The NDMCA is a key member of the study's advisory team, which includes federal and state agencies, autonomous trucking companies, shippers, and tribal and local governments," notes UGPTI Director Denver Tolliver. "As part of the advisory team, NDMCA is providing insights about the potential impacts of autonomous trucking on motor carriers and freight services in the state, while learning more about the interests and plans of other stakeholders."

The survey (which will be confidential and anonymous with respect to respondents) seeks to determine:

• Views about the possible inclusion of large numbers of autonomous trucks in future freight operations
• Business and economic factors (such as labor shortages, costs, and competition) that could lead companies to acquire and operate autonomous trucks in the future
• Challenges and concerns about moving forward with autonomous trucking (e.g., the availability and cost of equipment, business uncertainty and risks, and government policies)
• Expected time frames for deployment of autonomous trucks in company operations
• The types of commodities and markets most suitable for autonomous trucking
• Other important considerations

"The survey is a great opportunity for motor carriers to have their voices heard on this critical issue, which could reshape highway freight operations in the future, Tolliver said. Additionally, the results will provide valuable information about the thoughts and directions of the motor carrier industry as a whole. The survey will be offered online in an easy-to-use format.

The survey is just one part of the overall study, which is exploring various deployment options, routes, and practices and quantifying the safety, regulatory, energy, environmental, and economic impacts of autonomous trucking.

"To maximize the benefits and minimize any disruptive effects of autonomous trucking, it will be important for motor carriers, shippers, the traveling public, and transportation and safety enforcement agencies to be prepared for this impending change." Tolliver said.

"We will be looking at how implementation of various levels of autonomous truck technology may be able to address the unique challenges of moving freight in our region," Tolliver said. "Safety will be a key consideration in the research. We will not only be addressing perceived safety concerns related to the use of autonomous trucks through education and outreach efforts, but we also will examine ways that self-driving trucks can enhance safety in rural areas."

In addition to the NDMCA, other project advisory team members include representatives from the U.S. DOT's regional field offices, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the North Dakota Department of Transportation, and industry associations that depend on motor carrier transportation in rural areas, along with tribal officials, and technology providers that retrofit, sell, and support autonomous truck operations.

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