[20170920]IF10737_自动和半自动卡车.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov September 20, 2017Autonomous and Semi-autonomous TrucksIntroduction Autonomous trucks potentially offer significant freight transportation savings for the U.S. economy. Trucks carry about three-quarters of U.S. freight when measured by cargo weight or value. Driver compensation represents either the largest or second-largest cost component for truck carriers, depending on the price of fuel. Fuel and driver compensation typically each account for about one-third of total operating costs. A truck driver may not drive for more than 11 hours per day under federal regulations, so it is difficult for carriers to improve labor productivity except by using larger trucks. Also, because driver error is the overwhelming cause of vehicle accidents, automation that reduces accident rates could improve public safety. Despite the economic motivation, many in the trucking industry doubt whether driverless trucks are feasible in the foreseeable future given the current horizon of autonomous technology. An alternative scenario, at least for the next decade or two, is that truck driver jobs may come to resemble those of airline pilots in that drivers would spend part o