Of course, the mix of radars, sensors, lasers and technology that enable autonomous driving is applicable to many other forms of transportation. But the self-driving truck is a very natural and promising extension of the category.

With its truck, Daimler promises to unlock autonomous vehicle advancements that reduce accidents, improve fuel consumption, cut highway congestion, and safeguard the environment.

The Freightliner Inspiration is only a prototype of what is could be reality in ten years’ time and, for now, Daimler has made it clear that it is still relying on drivers.

“The driver is a key part of a collaborative vehicle system,”  Richard Howard, Senior Vice President at Daimler said at the Freightliner Inspiration’s unveiling. “With the Freightliner Inspiration Truck, drivers can optimize their time on the road while also handling other important logistical tasks, from scheduling to routing. The autonomous vehicle technology not only contributes to improved safety and efficiency, but allows for improved communication through connectivity and integration.”

Autonomous trucks are already used by mining conglomerate Rio Tinto in Western Australia to haul millions of tons of material.

Automation for trucking and haulage is so significant as logistics are so important when it comes to shipments. Often, drivers are pushed to the limit to make deadlines. Combine human fatigue with mechanical failures, and the results can be deadly.  A 9,000 gallon unleaded gasoline tanker fire in Detroit and a school bus tragedy in California, are just two of the most recent and tragic examples where automated driving could have made a difference.

The latest statistics from the US Department of Transportation (DoT) showed that 342,000 large trucks were involved in traffic incidents during 2013 with 3,964 people killed and 95,000 people injured. Those are some scary stats and ones that make automation, or semi-automation, an imperative.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not knocking the drivers. These are hard-working men and women who are up against crazy schedules and are often away from their families for weeks at a time.  Imagine driving full-time? It would be both physically and mentally exhausting.

The Walmart driver involved in the crash last June that seriously injured actor Tracy Morgan and killed his fellow passenger, the comedian James McNair, was reportedly nearing his drive-time limit when he rear-ended their car.  (Just this week, Walmart announced it had reached an undisclosed settlement with Morgan, after earlier settling with McNair’s family.)

On another cautionary note: just as car hacks have become a problem with autonomous cars, security is even more paramount with trucks and their automation systems.

As we previously reported, the remote car hack scenarios and vulnerabilities being experienced caught some of the top car manufacturers by surprise. I hope that when it comes to autonomous trucking, that manufacturers have taken note and are thinking further down the road.