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Autonomous trucking companies are reshaping the industry in Texas.
For several years, these companies have been testing their fleets on Texas highways but they always included backup safety drivers riding alongside.
Aurora Innovation said it plans to go completely driverless by the end of April with the first autonomous truck expected to roll down I-45 with routes in Dallas and Houston in the coming days. Aurora will start with one truck and gradually add more to the roads as time goes on.
Grayson Brulte, founder & CEO of "The Road to Autonomy," said autonomous trucks will have a positive impact on the Texas and U.S. economies.
"Autonomous trucking will help to reduce inflation and lower the cost of goods," he said.
With the amount of freight that is moved throughout the state and the regulatory environment that Texas has regarding the trucking industry, it's the right time and place to conduct this experiment
"It's the perfect combination for everything to make this technology truly to scale," Brulte added.
Aurora has the chance to be the first autonomous trucking company to occupy public roads with no driver in the truck and they will do it in Texas.
Some critics of the driverless trucks worry about safety oversight and possible job reductions. Brulte said autonomous trucks will actually compliment truck drivers well.
"It will have no impact on drivers," Brulte said. "If you start a job as a driver today, you will retire as a driver."
There is a driver shortage in the trucking industry, however, Brulte was adamant that the impact autonomous trucking would have on drivers would be zero.
Fatigue is also an important factor to consider with human drivers. A survey from the American Trucking Association says drivers are concerned about longer drives, resulting in more retirements and no new drivers filling those jobs. Brulte said there has been a growth though in drivers who do routes around 200-300 miles.