# Driverless semi-tractor-trailer rigs **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086 "2025-05-02T15:16:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/21 "2025-05-05T14:48:01Z")
Maybe the next generation of aircraft carriers will use coal fired steam boilers rather than nuclear. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/22 "2025-05-05T14:52:27Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Maybe the next generation of aircraft carriers will use coal fired steam boilers rather than nuclear. Yes! Back to _The Good Old Days_! šŸ˜ ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/23 "2025-05-05T15:19:46Z")
Sorry. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/24 "2025-05-05T15:29:38Z")
I should have been more clear. While I learned a new computer language I had never learned an old one. I knew how to use a computer but never wrote code before. Previously I could hand that stuff over to someone else. But I decided to do it myself. Steep learning curve but it made me so efficient that there was no way theyā€™d want to replace me even though I was highly paid. My mom was in her 80s when I gave her an iPhone. She said what the hell is that? I said itā€™s an iPhone. She said I know what it is why are you giving me one? I said just try it. Absolutely refused any help. Within a few months she was texting FaceTiming streaming audio and movies. You can teach an old dog new tricks. ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/25 "2025-05-05T15:32:06Z")
Agree. But Iā€™d hate to work for a railroad. Theyā€™re in for a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/26 "2025-05-05T16:25:44Z")
Did your professor and classmates know you had a photographic memory? I retired st 62 and have no intention of re-entering the work force. When I woke this morning I was going to google something but Danged if I can remember what i5 was a couple hours later. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/27 "2025-05-05T16:35:55Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Did your professor and classmates know you had a photographic memory? I donā€™t think that I have a photographic memory, even though I do seem to retain information very well. While I was in that Paralegal program, I would spend hours, prior to a test, re-writing my notes, because that is the best way for me to _cement_ the info in my brain. Maybe it wasnā€™t really necessary, but I did it anyway. I would have spent more years in that new career, if not for health problems. Because all of the stateā€™s ā€œnew hiresā€ at that point were independent contractors, I didnā€™t get any sick days or any health insurance. Luckily, I retained my old health insurance coverage, but without any allotment of sick days, there was no way that I could continue to be employed, so after 3.5 years, I had to resign. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/28 "2025-05-05T17:54:43Z")
> [@johnlump\_191311](#): > > But Iā€™d hate to work for a railroad. Theyā€™re in for a surprise. Huh? I donā€™t understand this remark. I made no mention of railroads. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/29 "2025-05-05T18:29:03Z")
Well whether or not, the ability to retain statutes word for word, read and retain case law, certainly would have been a great asset in this career. Would have put the kiddies to shame. Letā€™s see, did I have breakfast already or not? Iā€™ll ask the wife. šŸ˜ ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/30 "2025-05-05T18:31:54Z")
I heard last night from a New York program that the New Jersey train operators are asking for a wage of $190,000 a year. No need to be trained to write code. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/31 "2025-05-05T18:36:25Z")
> [@bing](#): > > I heard last night from a New York program that the New Jersey train operators are asking for a wage of $190,000 a year. The head of NJ Transit quoted the salaries of a couple of engineers who frequently put in seven day work weeks, so they had a LOT of overtime pay. The base salary is $89k, and the actual average salary of NJ Transit engineers is $135,000. The union is requesting a 17% raise, whichā€“of courseā€“is part of the negotiations. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/32 "2025-05-05T18:40:03Z")
I believe you. Still not bad work if you can get it. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/33 "2025-05-05T19:04:57Z")
> [@bing](#): > > not bad work if you can get it. Yes, but itā€™s not without its hazards. This ladyā€™s family probably wishes that she had never become a train engineer: > **[Attorney: NJ Transit train operator killed by tree identified as single...](https://newyork.news12.com/attorney-nj-transit-train-operator-killed-by-tree-identified-as-single-mother-of-3-boys)** > > The Haley family attorney tells News 12 New Jersey that NJ Transit should be held responsible for her death and that theyā€™re filing a lawsuit against the agency. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/34 "2025-05-05T19:07:34Z")
> [@bing](#): > > the ability to retain statutes word for word, read and retain case law, certainly would have been a great asset in this career. I think what impressed the DAG the most was when I linked two different cases together because I recalled the alias that had been used by a perp in a case from a few months prior. The stateā€™s old creaky info system was not helpful when it came to things like aliases. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 7:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/35 "2025-05-06T07:10:54Z")
You spent a lifetime in education, involved in learning your whole working life. I dropped out of high school to get a job. After 40 years of trucking or cal mining you are not eager to resume a long forgotten academic role. Overcoming what you have not studied for 40 years seems an overwhelming task. You say your computer skills were deficient, Minne at 12 years after retirement were non existent. I had never used one or lived in the same house as anyone who had. I bought a Mac desktop and a Macs for dummies book. It did not help. I did not have the vocabulary to understand it. Little by little I managed to find out how to do a few things with it but I will never become adept because I donā€™t want to spend the time to learn the vast amount that I donā€™t know about computers or cell phones. My life is quite busy enough without putting more chores on my plate. After retiring from 40 years in trucking, I drove a school bus for 17 years. I already knew how to drive a bus and handle kids so no retraining required. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 11:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/36 "2025-05-06T11:07:48Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > already knew how to drive a bus and handle kids 20 to 30 children? Itā€™s also not as difficult during a 20 minute ride on the bus. When I rode a school bus we typically amused ourselves. Teachers have to get their attention for six or more hours a day. In high school and middle school it is for 45 minutes at a time, but they have to do it with multiple classes. As far as handling children while teaching them something, thatā€™s much more difficult. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 1:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/37 "2025-05-06T13:17:24Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > We have a shortage of drivers. Here in New England we have a critical shortage of drivers. Many companies are willing to pay for someone to get their CDL And this isnā€™t counting the critical shortage of school bus drivers. ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/38 "2025-05-06T13:21:10Z")
The driverless trucks will make trucking much more cost effective. And allow even shorter ship times to boot. Iā€™m in a couple rail forums and they donā€™t seem to consider driverless trucks a threat. I think thatā€™s whistling past the graveyard. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/39 "2025-05-06T13:41:32Z")
> [@johnlump\_191311](#): > > they donā€™t seem to consider driverless trucks a threat Rail is the miracle technology from the 19th century. Trucks are the miracle technology of the 20th century. Autonomous trucks are the miracle of the 21st century. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086/40 "2025-05-06T13:58:35Z")
I agree with oldtimer-11, but on a little different scale, I am a hands on person, let me put my hands on it and I can normally figure it out mechanically, I jumped head 1st into big All-Terrain forklifts and hydraulics for a couple years and figured it out with no formal training for either, but messing with transmissions (hydraulics) helped as well as being very mechanically inclined, and I had a few books that had some good pictures.. lol But I ALWAYS was terrible in school as I donā€™t comprehend what I read very well and sometimes not at all, so not everybody is College material nor can learn a new trade very easy or at all, I did happen to be pretty decent at math back in the day, but northing advanced, it all overwhelms meā€¦ If I would have been one of the smart ones, I would have ended up being an engineerā€¦ But instead I ended up in a blue collar trade, and I was not good at any sports, so that wasnā€™t an option eitherā€¦ lol I know asemaster paid me a great compliment one time about how I could teach automotive or something like that, but trust me, I would get laughed out of the class room when I went to write my name on the board and spelt it wrongā€¦ šŸ¤¦ā€ā™‚ļø šŸ™ƒ We are not all the same when it comes to learning a new tradeā€¦ šŸ˜‰ [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driverless-semi-tractor-trailer-rigs/200086.md?page=3)