* Tennessee - Driverless trucks would ease shortage, create efficiencies
-- Some experts think that driverless trucks might be roaming the highways first. The technology is in development now, and one University of Tennessee transportation expert believes autonomous trucks might be on the highway within a decade... Experts such as Umit Ozguner, a professor with Ohio State University's Center for Automotive Research, have predicted that driverless trucks will make up the initial wave of autonomous vehicles, as companies see the economic benefits of using them for long-haul freight... Mercedes-Benz has developed a prototype driverless truck it calls Future Truck 2025, which it plans to have in operation by that year. Using a combination of radar, cameras, the Internet and communications systems, the truck can drive itself. It will have a human on board, but this person would be more of a "transport manager" than driver... The driver merges the rig onto the highway, switches the truck to autonomous mode, then sits back to attend to other tasks. These might include duties that would otherwise be performed by dispatchers, getting information on loading or unloading points, monitoring traffic situations or other tasks. The driver also would be able to communicate with family and friends and take a break from the stress of having to focus on the road for long periods. However, the driver still would need to be able to retake control of the rig at any time and would have to handle tasks such as passing, changing lanes or leaving the highway... Knoxville resident Eugene Smith, who has been a driver for Estes Express Lines for 21 years, said getting a break from driving sounds good... The need to be able to retake control of the rig would seem to rule out sleeping... He didn't like the idea that trucking jobs could be threatened...
(Photo) -- Knoxville, TENN, USA -The Knoxville News-Sentinel/Bloomberg - March 29, 2015
* Iowa - CRST tackles driver shortage head on. Niche acquisitions propel revenue growth
-- CRST Expedited has a high turnover rate with teams, but that’s not uncommon in the industry. In fact, the national turnover rate for large carriers was 97 percent in 2014’s third quarter, according to the American Trucking Associations... Nationwide, the trucking industry is short about 35,000 drivers, according to the American Trucking Associations... In response, CRST has taken a number of actions. It has moved to hire 25 additional recruiters. The company also has reached out to returning military personnel as well as former Bakken oil field drivers... CRST had planned to buy 150 trucks in 2010. But Rusch changed that order to 700 trucks and 1,500 trailers... Today the company, which employs more than 7,000 drivers, independent contractors and office personnel, is projecting annual revenues to grow from $1.5 billion this year to $2.15 billion in three years. with its annual Howard Hall Excellence in Business award...
(Photo. A truck training academy) -- Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA - The Gazette, by George C. Ford - March 29, 2015Labels: truckers shortage
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