Career in HGV driving

satchef1 said:
The point being, it's likely to be a short lived career for anyone starting out now. Expect to be loading/unloading/refuelling and acting as security for an automated vehicle by 2030.
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I can see scope for long distance HGV's being automated for example, Supermarkets are gonna jump all over this technology or Container HGV deliveries. Someone like me (Multi-drop workwear rental) I don't think I'll be obsolete for another 20 years hopefully (When I plan on retiring anyway):p

MadMossy said:
Likely to have a drastic impact on the whole industry, until the time comes that one causes a colossal pile up and multiple deaths.
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I agree, it's gonna open a can of worms. I can see firms getting done for having automated vehicles on the cheap & said cheap vehicles will kill someone. Then the gutter press will be all over it like a rash followed by a very expensive public enquiry & laws passed.
 
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That's another good point.

Years ago I was delivering to Chelsea Harbour.. I didn't even know such a place existed but it does.

The building site was having terrible problems with traffic wardens pouncing almost instantly. As I arrived (pulling a flat) the workmen pounced and attached cables on hooks to my trailer and Said " Drop your trailer driver and park your unit just there"

They wound the legs down Whilst I pulled the suzies and pin.

Instantly the trailer disappeared upwards and away...somewhere ! They used a giant tower crane.

I said "I hope you bring it back" !! They laughed and said "If you ask nicely" !!

Who is going to authorise the separation of an automated unit and...more to the point, accept responsibility that it's all roadworthy and correctly re-connected on its return ?
 
Have you seen some of the delivery points on some supermarkets ?
I used to Agency at Somerfield and the Co-Op (who then bought Somerfield)

Believe me, there's no way an automated vehicle will be pushing overloaded cages over cobblestones to get into the supermarket or helping the women at the Tonbridge store steady those cages down the slope ! (i think it was Tonbrige but it was a long time ago)

What i CAN see happening is "B"Double Roadtrains being allowed to night trunk.

On our latest CPC module we were shown clips of automated trucking and hybrids but the driver still needs to be there and the Rule book would need a LOT of revising.
EG: The clips show drivers selecting auto mode and then pivoting the seat around to relax but that then means you are driving without due care and attention !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RIe9gSRBQTk#t=76
 
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Whether or not the concept is (technologically) viable is a debate for another thread. The important thing here is that the industry is investing heavily in technology that makes the HGV Driver redundant. That isn't a good sign for someone looking to invest time and money in training to do that job. My point is simple; it's something for the OP to consider as it's a very real (potential) threat to the career he's interested in. Maybe the time and money would be better spent looking at a profession that isn't under threat of automation? Or maybe he should prioritise specializing in to an area of haulage that can't or won't be automated? To completely ignore and dismiss the concept of automated trucks would be foolish as the risk is very real.
 
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I struggle to see how anything other than trunk road driving will be automated. An automated LGV going through some of the tiny ancient towns and villages where the roads have barely been upgrade since horse and cart days will be a sight to behold.
 
I pulled out of the yard last night at 39,600 Kg, I'd prefer a driver in the truck if I was a car driver on the motorway.

I had a total of 6 sets of roadworks, 3 going and 3 on the way back. All had narrow lanes, average speed checks so erratically driven cars, some had lane closures and poor lane markings. I narrowly missed jct 40 to 39 on the M1 being closed, so a diversion through Wakefield.

That would be some computer controlled wagon to negotiate all that safely.
 
platypus said:
I'd much rather that than share the road with a 44ton HGV driven by a person eating or on the phone, which I see all too often.
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When electronics without faults and computer programs without bugs are the norm, sure, until then, I'll stick with the sandwich eating phone users thanks!
 
Most HGV drivers don't seem to have a clue how to drive when their load is anything other than an evenly distributed set of Euro pallets, **** letting a computer loose with a load of groupage.
 
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