Understanding preferences for autonomous trucks functions in China: Insights from drivers and organizational buyers

The transportation industry is undergoing a significant transformation as it integrates advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technologies. This shift is particularly important in the trucking industry. Driver assistance technologies offer a promising solution for improving safety and reducing traffic accidents. However, the trucking industry lags significantly behind passenger vehicles in the maturity and penetration rate of such technologies. This study uses a stated preference survey to explore the purchasing preferences for ADAS functions among truck drivers and organization buyers in China. Our findings show that truck drivers with a safe driving history prioritize reliability and assistance features such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-centering control. In contrast, drivers with a record of unsafe driving favor more advanced ADAS functions, such as city or highway navigation on autopilot, owing to their ability to alleviate driving stress. Buyers from organizations, compared with individual truck drivers, are more averse to the additional costs of ADAS technologies, while larger companies seem more willing to invest in autonomous trucks than are smaller businesses and individuals. However, top management teams remain cautious, reflecting a lack of confidence in the operational and safety benefits of the current technology at Level 2 autonomy. Resistance to adopting autonomous trucks is also stronger among male (vs. female) drivers and older drivers, who comprise a large segment of the domestic market. The study recommends that autonomous vehicle system providers and governments prioritize active safety functions to further improve safety. Furthermore, it is suggested that extensive training and trials be provided to increase trust and confidence in autonomous truck technologies among industry stakeholders.