#237 – Steve Viscelli: Trucking and the Decline of the American Dream

About this episode

<p>Steve Viscelli is a former truck driver and now an economic sociologist at University of Pennsylvania studying freight transportation, including autonomous trucks. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>Shopify</b>: <a href="https://shopify.com/lex">https://shopify.com/lex</a> to get 14-day free trial<br /> &#8211; <b>ROKA</b>: <a href="https://roka.com/">https://roka.com/</a> and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order<br /> &#8211; <b>Sunbasket</b>: <a href="https://sunbasket.com/lex">https://sunbasket.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get $35 off<br /> &#8211; <b>Blinkist</b>: <a href="https://blinkist.com/lex">https://blinkist.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get 25% off premium<br /> &#8211; <b>BetterHelp</b>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/lex">https://betterhelp.com/lex</a> to get 10% off</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Steve&#8217;s Website: <a href="https://www.steveviscelli.com/">https://www.steveviscelli.com/</a><br /> Big Rig (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/3EbaofP">https://amzn.to/3EbaofP</a><br /> Will Robotic Trucks Be &#8220;Sweatshops on Wheels?&#8221; (article): <a href="https://bit.ly/3vGGgpO">https://bit.ly/3vGGgpO</a><br /> Johnny Cash &#8211; All I Do Is Drive (song): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEHoagHlqrE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEHoagHlqrE</a><br /> Steve&#8217;s Penn Gazette Interview: <a href="https://bit.ly/3nkRPyV">https://bit.ly/3nkRPyV</a><br /> More Information on Automated Trucking: <a href="http://www.driverlessreport.org/">http://www.driverlessreport.org/</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT &#38; CONNECT:</b><br /> &#8211; Check out the sponsors above, it&#8217;s the best way to support this podcast<br /> &#8211; Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman">https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here&#8217;s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (07:36) &#8211; Ethnography<br /> (19:49) &#8211; Challenges of driving a truck<br /> (38:28) &#8211; Trucking industry: State of affairs<br /> (1:11:33) &#8211; Future of autonomous trucks<br /> (1:37:49) &#8211; Solving the automated truck dilemma<br /> (2:09:44) &#8211; Role of society in automated trucking<br /> (2:36:53) &#8211; Tesla and revolutionizing the trucking industry<br /> (2:56:33) &#8211; Hope and final thoughts</p>