Heavy-duty automated vehicles (AVs) could potentially reduce emissions and improve social equity by reducing disparities of residents’ exposure to vehicle emissions and associated health risks. The environmental impacts from heavy-duty vehicles diesel exhaust are particularly severe for residents living close to roadways with heavy truck traffic, such as freeways and major arterial routes in goods movement corridors [1]. Research consistently shows that communities of color and low-income groups are disproportionately situated in areas affected by freight traffic [2], [3], [4]. Patterson and Harley [1] shows that trucks with emission control strategies could result in decreased exposure disparities for pollutants quantified by the intake differentials of two corridors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Operations for designated truck routes, and restrictions on truck parking and engine idling in or near residential neighborhoods can also mitigate the disparities of traffic-related air pollution [5], and automation of heavy-duty vehicles can facilitate the enforcement of these regulations, leading to a more equitable distribution of environmental impacts.
The advent of heavy-duty AVs could also affect employment by disproportionately affecting low-wage jobs in traditional employment sectors. A key concern is the potential displacement of truck drivers [6], [7]. Nikitas et al., [8] concluded that AVs could generate labor market disruption and new layers of employment-related social exclusion based on an online survey of 773 responses from an international audience. Fleming [9] indicated that the technological unemployment on truck drivers will have less economic impact due to the current shortage of truck drivers and aging workforce. Nevertheless, it is crucial for policymakers and urban planners to develop robust retraining programs to prevent these workers from being replaced by higher-wage tech employees.
Overall, heavy-duty AVs have multiple benefits such as reduced driver costs for freight transported by trucks [10], saved fuel consumption and emissions due to platooning and smoother driving [11], [12], [13], and increased safety [14]. However, the study on the equity impacts of heavy-duty vehicles is sparse. Current areas for future research include: 1) exploring the environmental impacts of heavy-duty AV operations, 2) examining the effects of heavy-duty AVs on job markets and identifying effective retraining programs for displaced workers, and 3) analyzing the disparities in potential benefits and risks that heavy-duty AVs pose to different socioeconomic groups.