Journal Article

FZJ-2025-04914

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png The Impact of Partially Automated Trucking on the Demand for Human Drivers

Jungblut, E. (Corresponding author)FZJ*RWTH* ; Grube, T.FZJ* ; Linssen, J.FZJ* ; Stolten, D.FZJ*RWTH*

2025

Abstract: Engineering Power: Bulletin of the Croatian Academy of Engineering, Vol. 19 No. 4, 2024The 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.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Jülicher Systemanalyse (ICE-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 1111 - Effective System Transformation Pathways (POF4-111) (POF4-111)
2. 1112 - Societally Feasible Transformation Pathways (POF4-111) (POF4-111)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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