A Tech.co survey found 70 per cent of US freight companies prefer hiring human drivers over self-driving trucks, despite industry-wide staff shortages, reported the American Journal of Transportation.

Only 19 per cent of respondents said they would opt for autonomous trucks. Recruitment and retention remain difficult, with 63 per cent of businesses reporting stagnation or worsening conditions in the past year.

Companies are instead prioritising new technologies to support human drivers. Route optimisation software was the most popular choice at 49 per cent, followed by electronic logging devices at 46 per cent, vehicle maintenance systems and scheduling software at 41 per cent each, and asset tracking at 34 per cent.

Tech.co's Aaron Drapkin said pilot programmes have shown driverless trucks can work on short, fixed routes, but most logistics firms are not ready to replace fleets. He cited the need for human tasks such as inspections and maintenance, limited real-world testing, and a lack of regulation.

Mr Drapkin added that infrastructure upgrades, including highway maintenance and EV charging expansion, are required before autonomous trucks can operate widely. He said cost savings may eventually drive adoption, but trust gaps remain.

Doordash engineering manager Ani Mishra noted last-mile delivery is particularly challenging for autonomous vehicles and drones, as human judgment is still needed for pickups, loading and navigating drop-offs.