Driverless trucks' commercial rollout 'decades away'

Driverless lorries are decades away from hitting the roads, according to UK hauliers – despite recent trials and prototypes, including an electric remotely controlled truck.

“The UK industry will embrace this technology because it will help solve one of our biggest problems – the 55,000 truck-driver shortage,” said Nigel Parkes, the managing director of distribution company Pallet-Track. “However, it is a massive step and there are many fundamental issues that need to be resolved.”

The biggest hurdle is the law, he said, as it’s not clear where the liability would lay in case of a problem – “with the owner, manufacturer, or controller”. Parkes added that cyber security also needs to be considered.

For the technology to become widespread, it’s important “to ensure that the practical requirements fit domestic and international regulations that govern this industry’s activity,” Stuart Young, partner at the law firm Gowling, told PE.

A number of companies and academics are looking into making driverless lorries. Last year, Uber’s autonomous truck sporting $30,000 worth of hardware and software from San Francisco start-up Otto made the world’s first driverless truck delivery – 50,000 cans of beer.

One recent development is T-Pod, a prototype autonomous electric truck made by Swedish start-up Einride. It can travel up to 124 miles, autonomously on motorways and controlled from afar by a designated ‘driver’ on city roads. Trials are planned to start this summer.