Report Projects Major Economic and Safety Gains from Autonomous Trucking by 2035
Aurora Innovation
Report forecasts major gains from autonomous trucking by 2035
170,000 self-driving trucks projected on US roads
Could prevent hundreds of fatalities, boost economy
Stock video by Alberto Guevara via Pexels
Mar 20, 2026

Report Projects Major Economic and Safety Gains from Autonomous Trucking by 2035

A new analysis commissioned by Aurora Innovation and conducted by the Steer Group examines the potential impact of self-driving trucks on the U.S. economy. The report, released recently, projects significant outcomes by the year 2035 under an accelerated deployment scenario.

According to the findings, the autonomous trucking sector currently supports 17,000 jobs and contributes billions in total economic output. The analysis forecasts that by 2035, approximately 170,000 self-driving trucks could be operating on highways, representing a notable portion of the overall market and traveling tens of billions of miles each year.

The report links the technology to substantial safety improvements. It notes that large trucks are involved in a significant proportion of fatal road incidents, with driver error cited as a major contributing factor in most at-fault crashes. The analysis projects that self-driving technology could prevent hundreds of fatalities, thousands of injuries, and tens of thousands of crashes annually by 2035, generating billions in socioeconomic safety benefits.

Operational efficiencies are also highlighted. The technology faces no restrictions analogous to federal hours-of-service rules that limit human drivers, which could more than double equipment utilization on long hauls. These efficiencies are expected to lead to major fuel savings and reduced emissions, yielding further public health benefits and cost reductions for carriers, including lower insurance premiums.

These lower costs are projected to eventually translate into increased purchasing power for U.S. households, totaling billions annually. The report also argues that autonomous trucking could help address industry challenges like driver turnover and applicant shortages while creating higher-skilled jobs in related fields. Many positions in the autonomous vehicle sector reportedly offer wages above the national median.

An executive from Aurora Innovation stated that the company believes autonomous trucking can be a major engine for the economy and strengthen the transportation industry. The executive also mentioned a company program involving a financial commitment to scale opportunities alongside the technology. A leader from an automated vehicle education group noted the sector's existing job support and its potential to further strengthen the economy.

Beyond direct trucking benefits, the report suggests lower freight costs could bolster regional specialization and exports, adding a net sum to broader GDP. Initial commercial rollout is expected to focus on several Sun Belt states, with a national network targeted for 2030. The analysis identifies regulatory clarity as a primary hurdle, suggesting states with supportive frameworks will attract investment.

The report concludes that high-level automation represents a major productivity boost for the freight industry.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

    The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. 11.1
      United States
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    2. 11.2
      China
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    3. 11.3
      Japan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    4. 11.4
      Germany
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    5. 11.5
      United Kingdom
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    6. 11.6
      France
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    7. 11.7
      Brazil
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    8. 11.8
      Italy
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    9. 11.9
      Russian Federation
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    10. 11.10
      India
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    11. 11.11
      Canada
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    12. 11.12
      Australia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    13. 11.13
      Republic of Korea
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    14. 11.14
      Spain
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    15. 11.15
      Mexico
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    16. 11.16
      Indonesia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    17. 11.17
      Netherlands
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    18. 11.18
      Turkey
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    19. 11.19
      Saudi Arabia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    20. 11.20
      Switzerland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    21. 11.21
      Sweden
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    22. 11.22
      Nigeria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    23. 11.23
      Poland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    24. 11.24
      Belgium
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    25. 11.25
      Argentina
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    26. 11.26
      Norway
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    27. 11.27
      Austria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    28. 11.28
      Thailand
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    29. 11.29
      United Arab Emirates
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    30. 11.30
      Colombia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    31. 11.31
      Denmark
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    32. 11.32
      South Africa
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    33. 11.33
      Malaysia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    34. 11.34
      Israel
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    35. 11.35
      Singapore
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    36. 11.36
      Egypt
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    37. 11.37
      Philippines
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    38. 11.38
      Finland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    39. 11.39
      Chile
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    40. 11.40
      Ireland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    41. 11.41
      Pakistan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    42. 11.42
      Greece
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    43. 11.43
      Portugal
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    44. 11.44
      Kazakhstan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    45. 11.45
      Algeria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    46. 11.46
      Czech Republic
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    47. 11.47
      Qatar
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    48. 11.48
      Peru
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    49. 11.49
      Romania
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    50. 11.50
      Vietnam
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
  12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2025
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    8. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    11. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
  13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Consumption, by Country, 2025
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    6. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    7. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    8. Exports and Growth, By Product
    9. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    10. Production Volume and Growth
    11. Exports and Growth
    12. Export Prices and Growth
    13. Market Size and Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports and Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    18. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    19. Production, by Country, 2025
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    22. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    26. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    28. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    32. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)

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