The Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025 prototype tested along a closed-off stretch of the A14 near Magdeburg, Germany, is considered a big step in the advance of self-driving vehicles, reports Reuters.
"The drive was relaxing," said "driver" Hans Luft after he spent much of the journey conspicuously toying with his iPad while the Mercedes prototype with its aerodynamic fins and radar scanned the road 250 metres ahead.
The prototype makes fuller use of features already found in production models, by networking on-board sensors with automatic braking, stability control and lane-warning systems.
Daimler, the world's biggest truckmaker is confident that its technology can overcome regulatory and legal hurdles, and is at the forefront of German efforts to rival Google's advances in driverless cars.
"Autonomous driving will revolutionise road freight transport and create major benefits," said Daimler Trucks chief Wolfgang Bernhard.
"We aim to be the number one manufacturer in this market of the future which we believe will offer solid revenue and earnings potential."
Daimler's self driving vehicle still requires a human "driver" while freeing him to perform back-office tasks such as handling bookings and billing, or planning future itineraries.
The driver's seat can become an office chair or swivels to a "rest position", Daimler said - potentially allowing vehicles to drive for longer than current daily working limits for truckers.
Fuel and driver wages each account for 27 per cent of current operating costs for a typical haulage firm, according to a study by France's CNR, a government agency that monitors the sector.
"Once you include travelling expenses, total driver costs rise to a full third, the biggest item," a CNR official said.
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