The research topic of interest focuses on the problems and future of the industry. Some common issues in the transportation industry are the challenge of reducing costs and having a shortage of drivers. A report by the American Trucking Association (2019) shows that the latest estimates of the deficit are 50,000 drivers in 2018. Moreover, the industry had had this shortage for over 15 years, with one exception being 2008, when the volume of transportation decreased, and fewer drivers were needed. The tight labor market and the aging population of drivers will result in higher demand for these professionals. One solution to this is using self-driving technology, which would also help reduce the costs as the labor costs, considering the tight market, contribute significantly to the expenditures.
Due to the fact that costs and a labor shortage are linked and the potential of automated vehicles to resolve both problems, the research topic of interest is the impact and industry disruption that the introduction of Artificial Intelligence-led trucks will have on logistics. Chen et al. (2021) note that self-driving vehicles can be useful for other aspects of logistics as well, for example, in warehouses where automated machines can transport containers across the floor. Hence, the potential of this technology for the industry is vast. However, the research should also examine the problems that can arise as a result of automation and self-driving and the effect that these will have on logistics. For example, the industry may lack professionals that are capable of operating self-driving cars or logistics managers familiar with the technology. In summary, the research topic of interest is the future of logistics and transportation, considering the new technology developments such as self-driving vehicles.
References
American Trucking Associations. (2019). Truck driver shortage analysis. ATA.
Chen, C., Demir, E., Huang, Y., & Qiu, R. (2021). The adoption of self-driving delivery robots in last mile logistics. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics And Transportation Review, 146, 102214. doi: 10.1016/j.tre.2020.102214