A 25-ton autonomous truck is driving on the highway.

A person is sitting in the driver's seat, but they are not holding the steering wheel, and their feet are off the pedals.

Even so, the steering wheel turns on its own, and the vehicle changes lanes.

Computers and monitors are installed throughout the interior.

Multiple LiDAR sensors and cameras are installed, serving as the eyes of the autonomous vehicle.

As the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has authorized paid autonomous freight transport, autonomous trucks will be deployed on highways starting tomorrow, July 2.

Autonomous vehicles have mainly been used in the passenger transport sector, such as robotaxis, but now the scope has expanded to the freight transport sector.

The plan is to have a person in the driver's seat until the end of this year, move to a stage where a person sits in the passenger seat next year, and then transition to fully unmanned operation.

Initially, it will be used to transport parcels from Gunsan, Jeonbuk, through Jeonju, to Daejeon.

[Seo Hyun-chul / PR Team Leader, RideFlux: We need to proceed with commercialization in stages, and we plan to start during late-night hours or in sections where there is a shortage of (truck) drivers.]

The autonomous driving company stated, "The vehicles will operate at speeds of 90 km/h or less and minimize lane changes," adding, "It could be safer as there is no possibility of accidents caused by driver negligence, such as drowsy driving."

However, voices are being raised that measures are needed as the reduction of jobs for truck drivers could happen faster than expected.

[Kim Pil-soo / Professor, Department of Future Automotive Engineering, Daelim University: When autonomous driving is applied, it can lead to job instability as logistics innovation occurs. The government or local municipalities must quickly prepare (measures) such as job transition training or reassignment.]

It is also pointed out that since the subject and scope of liability in the event of an accident have not yet been established, relevant discussions must be held as soon as possible.

Self-Driving Truck Steering Wheels Move on Their Own... Hitting the Highway (2026.06.30)

Reported by Jeon Hyung-woo | Written by Kim Da-yeon | Video by Kang Si-woo | Video Editing by Choi Hye-young | Graphics by Jang Chae-woo | Produced by SBS Digital News