Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi explore how driverless trucks and 3D printing are reshaping the freight industry—slashing costs, reimagining design, and boosting efficiency in ways that transform the future of transportation.
The Rise of Driverless Trucks
The trucking industry faces a persistent shortage of drivers, leading to increased labor costs and logistical challenges. Driverless trucks offer a compelling solution by eliminating the need for human operators, thereby reducing expenses related to recruitment, training, and compliance with labor regulations. Autonomous vehicles can operate continuously without rest breaks, holidays, or shift changes, maximizing asset utilization.
Companies like Aurora, Waymo, TuSimple, Kodiak Robotics, and Daimler are at the forefront of this movement. Aurora, for instance, has launched a fully driverless trucking service in Texas, completing over 1,200 autonomous miles between Dallas and Houston. These trucks, equipped with advanced sensors and AI systems, are already transporting goods without human intervention.
Redefining Truck Design and Infrastructure
Traditional truck cabs are designed around human drivers, incorporating seats, controls, and amenities for comfort and functionality. The removal of the driver allows for a complete reimagining of the cab’s interior, potentially leading to more aerodynamic designs and increased cargo space.
Similarly, highway service facilities, commonly known as truck stops, primarily cater to human needs—offering food, restrooms, and lodging. With autonomous trucks, the need for such amenities diminishes, prompting a reevaluation of the roles and services provided by these facilities.
Addressing Weight Challenges with 3D Printing
One of the significant concerns with electric and autonomous trucks is the added weight from batteries and advanced hardware, which can impact road wear and safety. 3D printing offers a solution by enabling the production of lightweight, durable components. This technology allows for the creation of parts with complex geometries that are both strong and weight-efficient, similar to applications in the aerospace industry.
Historically, funding for US highways has been through gasoline taxes. Heavy electric trucks will reduce the tax base while increasing highway repair and replacement needs.
For example, Daimler Trucks utilizes MultiJet 3D printing to produce components and quality assurance tools, streamlining the design verification process and reducing lead times. Volvo Trucks employs 3D printing at its New River Valley plant to create manufacturing tools and fixtures, enhancing production efficiency and quality.
Enhancing Maintenance and Supply Chains
3D printing revolutionizes maintenance by enabling on-demand production of spare parts, reducing inventory requirements and downtime. Daimler Buses, for instance, has implemented a system where certified partners can produce 3D printed spare parts locally, cutting delivery times by up to 75%. This approach not only accelerates repairs but also minimizes the need for extensive warehousing.
Moreover, Daimler’s mobile 3D printing centers allow for rapid production of parts in response to urgent customer needs, further enhancing service capabilities.
The Research & Development Tax Credit
The now permanent Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit is available for companies developing new or improved products, processes and/or software.
3D printing can help boost a company’s R&D Tax Credits. Wages for technical employees creating, testing and revising 3D printed prototypes are typically eligible expenses toward the R&D Tax Credit. Similarly, when used as a method of improving a process, time spent integrating 3D printing hardware and software can also be an eligible R&D expense. Lastly, when used for modeling and preproduction, the costs of filaments consumed during the development process may also be recovered.
Whether it is used for creating and testing prototypes or for final production, 3D printing is a great indicator that R&D Credit-eligible activities are taking place. Companies implementing this technology at any point should consider taking advantage of R&D Tax Credits.
On the Road Again…
The convergence of driverless truck technology and 3D printing is transforming the transportation industry. Autonomous trucks address labor shortages and operational inefficiencies, while 3D printing offers solutions to design, manufacturing, and maintenance challenges. Together, these innovations pave the way for a more efficient, sustainable, and responsive logistics ecosystem.
