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Recent technological advancements in automation have sparked interest in how automation will affect truck drivers and the truck- ing industry. However, there is a gap in the literature addressing how truck drivers perceive automation and how they believe it will impact trucking. This study aims to understand truck drivers’ perspectives on automation in the trucking industry. Extending a preliminary study, we conducted a broader analysis of comments discussing automation in the r/Truckers subreddit from February 2017 to March 2021. In general, the community had negative senti- ments towards automation in the trucking industry. Participants speculated when automation would become mainstream in truck- ing and discussed the feasibility of automation in the context of executing non-driving tasks and having accommodating infrastruc- ture. Our findings indicate that truck drivers seek to participate in conversations about the future and to prepare themselves for when automation is more prominent in the trucking industry. 

New developments in automation have led to discussions about the impact that autonomous trucks will have on the trucking industry. However, there is a lack of literature on truck drivers’ perceptions of automation. To gain an understanding of the trucking community’s sentiments towards automation, we analyzed member discussions related to automation in the r/Truckers subreddit. Among the comments we analyzed, concerns about the feasibility of automation were popular and, in general, community members expressed negative perspectives on automation in trucking. This was corroborated by our findings that only 0.98% (9/915) comments had positive views on automation. Speculations on when automation of any degree will take place in the trucking industry varied, but the view that automation would eventually happen but not for a long time was the most common. To conclude, we highlight a need to support and empower truck drivers through the significant changes facing this industry. 

New developments in automation have led to discussions about the impact that autonomous trucks will have on the trucking industry. However, there is a lack of literature on truck drivers’ perceptions of automation. To gain an understanding of the trucking community’s sentiments towards automation, we analyzed member discussions related to automation in the r/Truckers subreddit. Among the comments we analyzed, concerns about the feasibility of automation were popular and, in general, community members expressed negative perspectives on automation in trucking. This was corroborated by our findings that only 0.98% (9/915) comments had positive views on automation. Speculations on when automation of any degree will take place in the trucking industry varied, but the view that automation would eventually happen but not for a long time was the most common. To conclude, we highlight a need to support and empower truck drivers through the significant changes facing this industry.