Assessing truck drivers’ and fleet managers’ opinions towards highly automated driving

Abstract

Highly automated driving is on the advance and is linked to various benefits such as increased overall comfort for the driver as well as rising fuel and transport efficiency. Especially within the domain of truck driving in terms of long distance haulage, it seems as if highly automated driving systems could positively enhance the conditions for drivers and transport companies. Literature suggests that the acceptance of new technologies is a major determinant of whether a developing technology is used. This paper describes an approach aimed at assessing truck drivers’ attitudes towards highly automated driving. Furthermore, fleet managers’ opinions regarding the potential and limitations of highly automated driving systems were queried to investigate whether transport companies would invest in this new technology. Data was collected by an online and paper-based questionnaire. The results reflect the major areas of acceptance and doubts towards highly automated driving from the drivers’ as well as the fleet managers’ perspectives. Both groups are found to be the most concerned about legal liability issues and the general safety and reliability of such technology. Comfort and safety seem to have the biggest influence on the acceptance of highly automated driving. Truck drivers were concerned about reduced driving pleasure as well as being redundant. Results show that the majority of truck drivers do not have a clear idea of highly automated systems. In contrast, fleet managers claim to have an idea of the system.