Replying again, as I cannot edit my comment: It looks like I should have been paying attention last year! [1]
As Ucho says briefly, and I say below, the biggest economic difference between human operated and self driving semis are:
* Tonnage / Time - the Auto Semi can drive all the time, no rest breaks.
* Fuel usage - Auto Semi can drive to an algorithm, not just what "feels best", and the Auto Semi can drive slower, because you aren't paying a driver for their time. Auto Semis can "platoon" for fuel savings from drafting, among other ways to achieve savings.
* Auto Semis will probably always have a human minder, at first in the cab, for experimental trucks, and later in a remote operator center (think drones)
* Insurance - at some point in the future insurance for Auto Semis will be much less human driven trucks.
* As soon as the break even point for the investment of sensors is about 1 year (Earnings from hauling, Fuel costs, and wages), the big logistics companies will BEGIN to replace their fleets. I expect this in 5-7 years, based on no hard facts what-so-ever.
As Ucho says briefly, and I say below, the biggest economic difference between human operated and self driving semis are:
* Tonnage / Time - the Auto Semi can drive all the time, no rest breaks.
* Fuel usage - Auto Semi can drive to an algorithm, not just what "feels best", and the Auto Semi can drive slower, because you aren't paying a driver for their time. Auto Semis can "platoon" for fuel savings from drafting, among other ways to achieve savings.
* Auto Semis will probably always have a human minder, at first in the cab, for experimental trucks, and later in a remote operator center (think drones)
* Insurance - at some point in the future insurance for Auto Semis will be much less human driven trucks.
* As soon as the break even point for the investment of sensors is about 1 year (Earnings from hauling, Fuel costs, and wages), the big logistics companies will BEGIN to replace their fleets. I expect this in 5-7 years, based on no hard facts what-so-ever.
1. http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/06/autos/self-driving-truck/