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4 Ways Autonomous Trucks Could Make Roads Safer

24 Jul 2017, Posted by McPherson Oil in General, Industry Information

Fuel Services Autonomous Truck | McPherson OilThe days of driverless vehicles are upon us. As scary as this may seem, it can be very beneficial in making our roads safer and more efficient. With human error accounting for a large percent of accidents, autonomous vehicles (AVs) are paving the way to safety. AVs are intuitive when it comes to driving decisions, and they eliminate a large amount of human error by reducing the amount of accidents on the roadways. This advancement in autonomous technology can change the way the fuel services industry operates by creating safer roadways, improving road congestion, and saving energy and consumption.

More Efficient Roadways

No one likes sitting in traffic, but with autonomous vehicles, the amount of road congestion can be cut back by about 25 percent, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Autonomous trucks link together using electrical coupling, which enables them to simultaneously brake and accelerate together. This is known as vehicle platooning and prevents inconsistent speeds from causing traffic to occur.

Less road congestion means more lane capacity, and with the help of adaptive cruise control, AVs can increase lane capacity by 80 percent, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration. They can also streamline drivers’ routes by communicating real-time road conditions. For example, if one autonomous truck notifies another about a road block, the second AV truck automatically redirects to a different route, saving time and fuel.

Consume Less

More efficient road ways mean less energy and fuel are consumed.. With the help of autonomous vehicles and adaptive cruise control, drivers can improve fuel economy up to as much as 10 percent, according to RAND Corporation.

Increase Drivers

Even with autonomous trucks doing a lot of the work, there is still a need for a driver to be present in the vehicle to maintain off-highway driving, pulling in to loading docks, and handling weather-related conditions when necessary. These changes in responsibilities makes the job role more appealing to employment seekers in the trucking industry, therefore, improving the shortage of truck drivers.

Increase Productivity

The more automated the vehicle, the less the driver is required to do, leaving room for more productivity on the driver’s end. Even though the driver’s attention is still necessary for the truck to function, on long highway routes drivers can get more paperwork and other easy tasks done while going from point A to point B.

Whether your fleet consists of autonomous trucks or standard trucks, McPherson is dedicated to fueling your business needs. After more than 40 years of experience, we pride ourselves on setting the standard for fuel services and commercial petroleum. Give us a call today at 888-802-7500 to speak with our helpful associates to see what we can do for your business.