Are the Teamsters Trying to Kill Driverless Tech, or Save the Truck Drivers?

[cheryl]

Are the Teamsters Trying to Kill Driverless Tech, or Save the Truck Drivers? - Pacific Standard

Perhaps both.

To better understand the Teamsters' position on the evolving legislation and discuss how the union is preparing for a more automated future, Pacific Standard spoke to Sam Loesche and Kara Deniz, respectively the Teamsters' legislative representative and spokesperson.

 

[Old Man Jingles]

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

It is both.

 

[Tony Q]

The Teamsters are lost as a labor organization. With all the infighting and politics going on, I doubt they have any real plan for driverless trucks.

 

[eats packages]

CDL jobs (in general) are in very high demand as a combined result of the small market of individuals interested + the aggressive downward pressure on wages offered for these positions.
Automation in this field would initially close these two gaps first, so while the technology could show up tomorrow, there really is no jeopardizing jobs until we are a couple extra years in.