Automation is not a buzzword. It's the future. Now, with the advent and growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), it's set to redefine industries. According to research, AI will impact 40% of jobs worldwide, and the logistics sector is not immune.

Enter: autonomous vehicles. These fully automated trucks and other transportation vehicles deliver goods between point A and point B without a driver.

For logistics companies and the businesses that use them, this means faster, cheaper, optimized deliveries. It's a solution that will empower you to keep up with growing demand without compromising your profit margin—even amid driver shortages. The potential is significant, and forecasts suggest the autonomous vehicle market could reach $600 billion by 2035.

Here's what you need to know about the current state, future, and implications of autonomous freight.

The Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on Logistics

Logistics is a complex web of moving parts and interdependencies, so errors and delays have far-reaching ripple effects. Driverless trucking and other autonomous vehicles have the potential to overcome some of the challenges and bottlenecks that lead to poor delivery experiences. Here's how:

Autonomous Vehicles Reduce Human Error

Truckers work long hours to move goods around the nation. It's a demanding profession, and as fatigue sets in, the risk of road accidents and mistakes increases. Autonomous trucking reduces or, in some cases, eliminates these risks, supporting a more accurate and safer logistics network.

Autonomous Vehicles Boost Delivery Speed

We live in an everything-now culture. Your customers expect their goods to arrive fast. When delays occur, their experience is compromised. Self-driving trucks leverage advanced routing algorithms to map optimized routes. This helps you meet customer expectations and tight schedules. At the same time, fuel consumption drops, which saves you money.

Autonomous Vehicles Cut Operational Costs

Speaking of expenses, autonomous trucking cuts costs through:

  • Less fuel usage

  • Lower driver compensation

  • Fewer accidents

According to McKinsey, autonomous vehicles could cut the total cost of ownership (TCO) by 42% per mile on long-haul routes.

The Implications of Autonomous Freight on the Trucking Industry

The benefits on the business side are clear: lower costs, fewer errors, and optimized delivery. What does this mean for the trucking industry more broadly?

For one, we can expect some relief in the driver shortage. Estimates suggest the US is short more than 80,000 drivers. This figure is set to double by 2030.

Then, there are regulatory impacts. How will different states and countries control and monitor self-driving freight vehicles? So far, some areas are beginning to introduce frameworks for the use of autonomous vehicles, but whether the industry will achieve full regulatory alignment is yet to be seen.

There's also an exciting opportunity for innovation, and SEKO is at the forefront. We are integrating automated technologies to bolster our operational capabilities and deliver an even higher standard of service to our clients. Already, we are using automation to:

  • Lockdown total delivery precision. We shorten turnaround times with hub-to-hub and driverless delivery models

  • Shape a safer future for our employees. By investing in automated driving, we reduce the risk of accidents and make our fleet operations safer

  • Offer a higher quality service for a lower cost. For routes over 1,500 miles, the cost-saving potential of driverless long-haul trucking is huge.

What About Jobs?

Autonomous truck driving, by its very nature, does not require human drivers. In light of this, as more and more logistics operations leverage autonomous delivery trucks, there will be fewer jobs for truck drivers.

However, this does not necessarily spell doom and gloom for the job market. As we mentioned, the US is currently working through a critical driver shortage. Automated vehicles can help alleviate extra pressure, which should improve working conditions for drivers.

In addition, there's an opportunity to re-skill. Long-haul drivers might transition into the vehicle maintenance and fleet management spaces. The industry will see an uptick in positions related to autonomous vehicle operations, safety checks, route planning, customer service, and more.

Finally, we expect to see business models like Driver-as-a-Service (DaaS) emerge. This is where fleet operators essentially lease out automated freight technology.

Autonomous Vehicles and Transportation

Automated vehicles like driverless truck technology will also impact transportation in general.

Roads will become safer, as automated transportation will be programmed to drive at the speed limit and follow traffic rules. There might also be less congestion. In the future, we could see networks built specifically for autonomous vehicles.

The environmental impact of logistics and transportation may be softened too. Optimized driving patterns reduce reliance on non-renewable resources.

The Future of Autonomous Trucking

Here's what we might see as we look to the future of trucking automation:

  • Automated vehicles will become more advanced. Major companies will enter the market and create autonomous driving trucks that are safer and more efficient.

  • The traditional logistics model will change from conventional approaches to routes made possible by automated vehicles, like hub-to-hub transfers. Companies like SEKO can better optimize resource allocation and pass on the savings to customers. They can also maintain a more predictable transit schedule.

  • The demand for skilled and qualified technicians, fleet supervisors, and control center operators will rise. There will be new labor demands across the logistics sectors.

What's Next for SEKO?

At SEKO, we embrace innovation. We celebrate the future of our industry and adopt new technologies like autonomous driving to deliver a better service to customers just like you.

We are transforming our operations. Using autonomous freight, we plan to shape a faster, more reliable delivery network. We will make better use of our human resources by automating long-haul routes, which, in turn, will improve safety.

These benefits will take our service offerings to a whole new level. Next-gen speed and dependability will be particularly appealing to clients shipping time-sensitive, high-value, and perishable goods.

Of course, every step we take into the future of logistics is grounded in our commitment to sustainability. We take our environmental responsibility seriously, so you can rest assured our adoption of new technology always aligns with our ESG goals. We look forward to exploring the possibilities of more fuel-efficient driving and electric autonomous vehicles.

Join us on this journey. Get in touch today, and let's discuss the future of your logistics.