There are already self-driving trucks on the roads. Their pilots came earlier, because the problem space is much smaller.

They don't need to "catch up" to Waymo, because of the niche.

https://bigrigs.com.au/2024/04/18/driverless-trucks-trial-be...

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overfeed 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

> There are already self-driving trucks on the roads.

2 trucks?! I suppose that's the minimum number required to make your pluralization correct.

I will stand on my earlier statement regarding this particular outfit: they'll need to catch up because Waymo started class 8 variants in 2021 https://waymo.com/blog/search/?t=Waymo%20Via

	▲	shakna 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		That article also mentioned previous trials from other companies that are ongoing, from previous years. And Volvo rolled a class 8 as well.

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Grimburger 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I see Australia in the article and pardon my rampant scepticism, simply don't believe it.

Lo and behold:

>A six-month trial of driverless trucks on public Victorian roads has been put on hold just hours before it was meant to begin after the transport union labelled it “shambolic” and “sneaky”

> "the futures of our truck drivers are jeopardised due to this poorly executed plan."

> “It’s unacceptable that these trials are being pushed by corporations that continue to disadvantage our hard-working mums and dads that work day in, day out to carry Victorians.”

Now this sounds far more like the Australia I know.

Looks like the entire trial was scrapped due to union pressure and never resumed. Same reason we can't even have Driver-Only Operation on NSW trains, despite specifically purchasing DOO trains that operate safely worldwide.

https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2024/-shambolic---victorian-dr...

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blinding-streak 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

And plenty have failed. Perhaps a smaller problem space but still really, really hard. Some self driving freight company failures: Starsky, TuSimple, Embark, Ghost, among others.

One promising self driving truck startup, Aurora, was forced to put a safety driver back in the driver's seat after testing in May.

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/aurora-driver-back-in-seat

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intrasight 3 days ago | parent [-]

"Forced" by the truck maker, who was forced by their insurance company. All these companies will face that hurtle. I suggested to my girlfriend, who is a corporate defense attorney, that she get involved in this area of legal practice. It's a legal minefield.

	▲	blinding-streak 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		It does seem very messy! Will be some interesting precedents set over the next few years I imagine.