It’s all about the ROI: fleets weigh up benefits of automation

Automation has been offered as the solution to many problems facing global fleets today. The driver shortage shows no sign of abating, and those keen to cut fleet expenditures are aware that removing the driver from the cab also removes approximately one third of their operating costs. Autonomous vehicles (AVs), the theory goes, also have the potential to increase road safety by homogenising vehicle activity and, when the technology is ready, taking away the potential for human error. Level 5 autonomy sounds like a win-win situation for the trucking industry, but many fleet operators are reluctant to prepare for its arrival.