Self-driving technology could prevent hundreds of thousands of traffic crashes, save millions of gallons of fuel, and free up time for countless numbers of commuters. It could also cost millions of Americans their jobs. As self-driving systems are deployed in widespread use over the next decade, many of their first applications will be in commercial vehicles, and as these technologies become more robust, they will likely endanger the employment of millions of truckers and taxi drivers.
While there?s a shortage of workers who drive for a living today, government leaders are urging the Trump administration to prepare for a transition period when automation puts the jobs of more than 2.5 million truck drivers at risk. Two Republican governors outlined their concerns Sunday during a meeting with new Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. ?Autonomous vehicles are a tremendous opportunity, and at the same time, there?s this big-time workforce issue,? Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker said. ?We need to be thinking far enough ahead on that one so that we don?t wind up creating a tremendous amount of economic hardship along the way.?

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?I?m very, very concerned about that and very cognizant

of those challenges.? ? Elaine Chao, DOT Secretary

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His comments came during the closing session of the National Governors Association?s winter meetings in Washington, D.C., and echoed those made by Michigan governor Rick Snyder, who expressed hope that Chao would examine a swath of issu...