US freight firms still favour human drivers
Autonomous trucks may be making headlines, but most US freight operators are in no rush to adopt them. According to a new Tech.co survey, 70% of logistics companies would hire human drivers rather than use self-driving trucks, while only 19% would do the reverse.
This preference persists despite a persistent driver shortage, with 63% of businesses reporting stagnant or worsening recruitment. Instead, companies are focusing on practical digital tools – nearly half (49%) plan to introduce route optimisation software, ahead of electronic logging and maintenance systems.
Tech.co’s Aaron Drapkin says operators remain cautious due to safety concerns, infrastructure gaps and regulatory uncertainty, noting that trust in AI-driven fleets will take time to build. (ah)