IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/inecol/v28y2024i4p981-995.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Trilemma of life cycle carbon, employment, and costs of trucking industry's shift toward automation and electrification

Author

Listed:
  • Jafar Mandouri
  • Nuri C. Onat
  • Murat Kucukvar
  • Burak Sen

Abstract

The transportation sector is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by advancements like autonomous and electric vehicle technologies. In this research, we investigate employment, carbon emissions, and total cost of ownership of autonomy and electrification in the US trucking industry. We utilize life cycle assessment and multi‐regional input‐output modeling to develop a comprehensive life cycle sustainability assessment approach. According to the results, while enhanced fuel economy due to autonomous systems can lead up to a 18% and 41% reduction in emissions and costs, electrification of diesel trucks shows remarkable potential, achieving up to a 40% decline in emissions and a 12% saving in life cycle costs. Autonomy and electrification combined could lead to a 50% decrease in emissions and 46% savings in life cycle costs. On the other hand, autonomy, while enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing costs, causes job losses due to improved efficiency and the elimination of driver positions. Introducing autonomy to diesel trucks results in a 27% decrease in jobs within the US trucking sector, attributed to improved fuel efficiency and subsequent job losses. Transition to autonomy and electrification requires a deliberate balance between environmental, social, and economic aspects. Managerial strategies should consider the use of the proposed composite indicators when setting emission reduction, cost cutting, and managing employment implications. Flexible re‐skilling and training programs should be developed to adapt to the changing skill requirements due to electrification and automation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jafar Mandouri & Nuri C. Onat & Murat Kucukvar & Burak Sen, 2024. "Trilemma of life cycle carbon, employment, and costs of trucking industry's shift toward automation and electrification," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(4), pages 981-995, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:28:y:2024:i:4:p:981-995
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13516
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13516
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jiec.13516?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    --->

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aniruddh Mohan & Parth Vaishnav, 2022. "Impact of automation on long haul trucking operator-hours in the United States," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Nuri C. Onat & Jafar Mandouri & Murat Kucukvar & Burak Sen & Saddam A. Abbasi & Wael Alhajyaseen & Adeeb A. Kutty & Rateb Jabbar & Marcello Contestabile & Abdel Magid Hamouda, 2023. "Rebound effects undermine carbon footprint reduction potential of autonomous electric vehicles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Konstantin Stadler & Richard Wood & Tatyana Bulavskaya & Carl†Johan Södersten & Moana Simas & Sarah Schmidt & Arkaitz Usubiaga & José Acosta†Fernández & Jeroen Kuenen & Martin Bruckner & Stefan, 2018. "EXIOBASE 3: Developing a Time Series of Detailed Environmentally Extended Multi†Regional Input†Output Tables," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(3), pages 502-515, June.
    4. Evelyne Tina Kassai & Muhammad Azmat & Sebastian Kummer, 2020. "Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban Settings," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-25, August.
    5. Simpson, Jesse R. & Mishra, Sabyasachee & Talebian, Ahmadreza & Golias, Mihalis M., 2019. "An estimation of the future adoption rate of autonomous trucks by freight organizations," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    6. Talebian, Ahmadreza & Mishra, Sabyasachee, 2022. "Unfolding the state of the adoption of connected autonomous trucks by the commercial fleet owner industry," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    7. Nuri Cihat Onat & Murat Kucukvar & Anthony Halog & Scott Cloutier, 2017. "Systems Thinking for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: A Review of Recent Developments, Applications, and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-25, April.
    8. Hani S. Mahmassani, 2016. "50th Anniversary Invited Article—Autonomous Vehicles and Connected Vehicle Systems: Flow and Operations Considerations," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(4), pages 1140-1162, November.
    9. Eunbin Kim & Youngrim Kim & Jieun Park, 2022. "The Necessity of Introducing Autonomous Trucks in Logistics 4.0," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-10, March.
    10. Yantao Huang & Kara M. Kockelman, 2020. "What will autonomous trucking do to U.S. trade flows? Application of the random-utility-based multi-regional input–output model," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 2529-2556, October.
    11. Troy R. Hawkins & Bhawna Singh & Guillaume Majeau‐Bettez & Anders Hammer Strømman, 2013. "Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional and Electric Vehicles," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 17(1), pages 53-64, February.
    12. Pan He & Giovanni Baiocchi & Klaus Hubacek & Kuishuang Feng & Yang Yu, 2018. "The environmental impacts of rapidly changing diets and their nutritional quality in China," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(3), pages 122-127, March.
    13. Onat, Nuri Cihat & Kucukvar, Murat & Aboushaqrah, Nour N.M. & Jabbar, Rateb, 2019. "How sustainable is electric mobility? A comprehensive sustainability assessment approach for the case of Qatar," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 461-477.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Onat, Nuri Cihat & Kucukvar, Murat, 2020. "Carbon footprint of construction industry: A global review and supply chain analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    2. Schuster, Amy M. & Agrawal, Shubham & Britt, Noah & Sperry, Danielle & Van Fossen, Jenna A. & Wang, Sicheng & Mack, Elizabeth A. & Liberman, Jessica & Cotten, Shelia R., 2023. "Will automated vehicles solve the truck driver shortages? Perspectives from the trucking industry," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Porcelli, Roberto & Gibon, Thomas & Marazza, Diego & Righi, Serena & Rugani, Benedetto, 2023. "Prospective environmental impact assessment and simulation applied to an emerging biowaste-based energy technology in Europe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    4. Onat, Nuri Cihat & Kucukvar, Murat & Aboushaqrah, Nour N.M. & Jabbar, Rateb, 2019. "How sustainable is electric mobility? A comprehensive sustainability assessment approach for the case of Qatar," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 461-477.
    5. Nuri Cihat Onat & Galal M. Abdella & Murat Kucukvar & Adeeb A. Kutty & Munera Al‐Nuaimi & Gürkan Kumbaroğlu & Melih Bulu, 2021. "How eco‐efficient are electric vehicles across Europe? A regionalized life cycle assessment‐based eco‐efficiency analysis," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(5), pages 941-956, September.
    6. Sharma, Ishant & Mishra, Sabyasachee, 2022. "Quantifying the consumer’s dependence on different information sources on acceptance of autonomous vehicles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 179-203.
    7. Murat Kucukvar & Khalel Ahmed Alawi & Galal M. Abdella & Muhammet Enis Bulak & Nuri C. Onat & Melih Bulu & Murat Yalçıntaş, 2021. "A frontier‐based managerial approach for relative sustainability performance assessment of the world's airports," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 89-107, January.
    8. Schulke, Arne & Mai Vi Nguyen, 2023. "The introduction of self-driving / full-automation trucks: Will we live among these modern dinosaurs?," IU Discussion Papers - Transport & Logistics 1 (Januar 2023), IU International University of Applied Sciences.
    9. Pan He & Beiming Cai & Giovanni Baiocchi & Zhu Liu, 2021. "Drivers of GHG emissions from dietary transition patterns in China: Supply versus demand options," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(3), pages 707-719, June.
    10. Kempston, Sophie & Coles, Stuart R. & Dahlmann, Frederik & Kirwan, Kerry, 2025. "UK electric vehicle battery supply chain sustainability: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    11. Engholm, Albin & Kristoffersson, Ida & Pernestal, Anna, 2021. "Impacts of large-scale driverless truck adoption on the freight transport system," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 227-254.
    12. Feng, Sida & Magee, Christopher L., 2020. "Technological development of key domains in electric vehicles: Improvement rates, technology trajectories and key assignees," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    13. Nelson, Ewan & Warren, Peter, 2020. "UK transport decoupling: On track for clean growth in transport?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 39-51.
    14. Simon Schulte & Arthur Jakobs & Stefan Pauliuk, 2021. "Relaxing the import proportionality assumption in multi-regional input–output modelling," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 10(1), pages 1-21, December.
    15. Albert, Osei-Owusu Kwame & Marianne, Thomsen & Jonathan, Lindahl & Nino, Javakhishvili Larsen & Dario, Caro, 2020. "Tracking the carbon emissions of Denmark's five regions from a producer and consumer perspective," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    16. Marwa Hannouf & Getachew Assefa, 2018. "A Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment-Based Decision-Analysis Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-22, October.
    17. Kucukvar, Murat & Haider, Muhammad Ali & Onat, Nuri Cihat, 2017. "Exploring the material footprints of national electricity production scenarios until 2050: The case for Turkey and UK," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 251-263.
    18. Ghotge, Rishabh & van Wijk, Ad & Lukszo, Zofia, 2021. "Off-grid solar charging of electric vehicles at long-term parking locations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    19. Pérez-Sánchez, Laura & Velasco-Fernández, Raúl & Giampietro, Mario, 2021. "The international division of labor and embodied working time in trade for the US, the EU and China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    20. Marit Mohr & Jens F. Peters & Manuel Baumann & Marcel Weil, 2020. "Toward a cell‐chemistry specific life cycle assessment of lithium‐ion battery recycling processes," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1310-1322, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:28:y:2024:i:4:p:981-995. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1088-1980 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.