On April 29, Bot Auto, a trucking company, deployed a driverless truck that successfully traveled 231 miles from Houston to Hutchins across northbound Interstate 45, making the trip the first autonomous delivery relying on AI controls.
According to , a global freight logistics reporting agency, the delivery started at 1:16 am at Riggy’s Truck Parking in Houston and arrived at 4:57 am at Safe Stop in Hutchins. The truck managed to avoid construction, traffic, and a speeding motorcycle that cut in front of the truck, which could have potentially caused a collision if a person had been driving. It arrived at the destination on time, successfully meeting a shipper’s tight timeframe and delivering to the customer promptly. The fact that AI system could maneuver in the dark, while many accidents occur because of drivers not seeing well in the dark.
Because of this achievement, many truck drivers are worried that their jobs are now at risk, which might cause higher unemployment rates. However, others proponents argue that this new technology could decrease accidents due to fatigued drivers and ensure more on-time deliveries. Bot Auto also stated that these trucks cost $1.89 per mile, which is significantly cheaper than the $3.78 per mile cost for human drivers. This could help reduce shipping fees and boost the truck industry economy by reinvesting the saved money into more resources.