Secretary Walsh Touts Truck Drivers Amid Automation Advances – Transport Topics Online

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Truck drivers will continue to provide key contributions to the freight industry as automation is steadily adopted throughout the transportation landscape, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said recently.

While the secretary acknowledged elements of the freight industry are being served by automated components, he said truckers will remain central figures in high-demand areas of the commercial transportation marketplace.

I havent seen that automation that completely knocks people out yet. And I dont think that. I think theres a ways down the road, and Im personally not concerned about that today, Walsh said on Transport Topics Newsmakers series May 16.

As far as autonomous trucks and autonomous vehicles, I think its still a little too early to talk about when that day comes, the secretary added. I still think the technology is not quite there yet. I mean, were obviously going to watch that very closely. But I still think at the end of the day, theres going to be a need for truck drivers in America.

Host Michael Freeze discusses insurance coverage and costs with Jane Jazrawy of Carriers Edge and David Berno of Hub International.Tune in above orby going to RoadSigns.TTNews.com.

The Biden administration has announced initiatives designed to recruit and retain individuals seeking careers in the trucking industry. This year, the Labor Department partnered with American Trucking Associations for an apprenticeship program designed to tackle the industrys driver shortage. ATA has determined the industry is short about 80,000 drivers.

On Capitol Hill, federal policymakers have yet to agree on comprehensive policies that would serve as a regulatory framework for the autonomous vehicles industry. In the private sector, major automotive technology firms insist on being committed to testing autonomous trucks with the purpose of introducing them to the marketplace.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and amid supply chain bottlenecks, stakeholders sought to elevate the profile of commercial drivers. Their role in distributing goods and assisting in the manufacturing sector has been described as essential.

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Secretary Walsh Touts Truck Drivers Amid Automation Advances - Transport Topics Online