Original scientific paper
The Impact of Partially Automated Trucking on the Demand for Human Drivers
Edgar Jungblut
; 1. Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Climate and Energy Systems – Jülich Systems Analysis, 52425 Jülich, Germa; 2. RWTH Aachen University, Chair for Fuel Cells, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,52062 Aachen, Germany
Thomas Grube
; Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Climate and Energy Systems – Jülich Systems Analysis, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Jochen Linssen
; Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Climate and Energy Systems – Jülich Systems Analysis, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Detlef Stolten
; 1. Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Climate and Energy Systems – Jülich Systems Analysis, 52425 Jülich, Germany; 2. RWTH Aachen University, Chair for Fuel Cells, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,52062 Aachen, Germany
Abstract
The German road haulage industry is currently facing a shortage of drivers, which is expected to increase in the future as freight volumes grow. In the long term, automated vehicles are expected to become part of road transport operations, reducing the demand for drivers and alleviating the driver shortage. During the transition period to full automation, partially automated trucks, which operate without a driver in certain areas and require a driver in others, will become the dominant mode of transportation. This paper examines how much driver demand could be reduced through partial automation. In terms of pure driving time, automated freeway driving reduces the demand for human drivers by about 60%. When loading/unloading time is added, the potential savings range from 25% to 41%. The greatest savings are on long-distance trips, where a greater proportion of the trip is spent driving on freeways. The reduction in driver demand is sufficient to offset current driver shortage estimates.
Keywords
Road freight transport, Driver demand, Driver shortage, Automated driving, Level 4 automation
Hrčak ID:
334973
URI
Publication date:
1.9.2025.
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