Driver/Sales Workers

In delivery work today, some tasks are starting to use AI, while others stay human. For example, autonomous trucks are already being tested. News reports say companies like Aurora have run 18-wheelers with no drivers on highways and plan regular driverless deliveries in Texas ^[1].

These trucks use cameras and sensors to see obstacles and can drive nearly around the clock ^[1]. Experts expect thousands of such robot trucks in the next few years ^[1]. In contrast, day-to-day tasks like taking orders, making change, or fixing problems are mostly done with simple tools or by people.

Retailers increasingly use AI chatbots to answer basic customer questions ^[2], but tricky complaints usually need a human. In short, heavy driving jobs are seeing more automation, but most customer-facing parts of the job are still done by people.

Whether AI spreads quickly in this field depends on costs, benefits, and trust. One big reason to move fast is that trucking has a serious labor shortage and high costs ^[3]. Self-driving trucks could deliver goods faster and save money by running without breaks ^[1].

But building and testing these systems is very expensive, and many worry about safety and jobs ^{[4] [3]}. Also, laws vary by state – many allow autonomous trucks on highways, but some impose limits ^[4]. For simpler tasks like taking orders or handling payments, businesses usually use basic computer tools and only add AI when it clearly helps.

Overall, firms tend to adopt AI slowly. They will likely use technology for the hardest or most routine parts of the job, while still relying on human drivers’ skills for sales, judgment, and customer service. This way, drivers can focus on what they do best while AI handles the heavy lifting.