Australia's expanse of open road is being eyed off by a United States start-up business developing software it says will make long-haul driving safer and cut fuel costs.
The technique, called platooning, utilises vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology and has been shown to cut fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent.
It is being highlighted at the International Driverless Vehicle Conference currently being hosted in Adelaide.
"Truck platooning is where you have two trucks that follow in close proximity to each other so they might share in fuel economy and safety benefits," Peloton Technology, head of advanced development Doctor Shad Mr Laws said.
He said platooning still required a truckie to be focussed on the task of driving and steering.
"Right now there's a huge shortage both in the US market and in the Australian market and so the demand for trucking continues to increase," Mr Laws said.
"E-commerce makes that even greater, so we're left with a huge shortage, which is a big challenge for the trucking industry."
Peloton Technology will roll out software in the US next year that will allow trucks to drive in formation while safely allowing access to their lane for other vehicles.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative said platooning technology could attract more drivers by offering safer and more comfortable working conditions.
But South Australian Road Transport Association executive director Steve Shearer said platooning was not yet legal in Australia.
He pointed out that hundreds of Australian laws would also need to change to provide for autonomous vehicles.
"It's still a long way off and people driving the technology tend to get a little bit excited," Mr Shearer said.
He said platooning would also require cooperation from people in private vehicles using the same roads.
