When you sit down for dinner tonight, look at whats on your table. Every ingredient was delivered by a truck. In fact, almost everything we touch our clothes, our furniture, the groceries in our fridge hitches a ride on 18 wheels before it reaches us.Trucking, like many foundational sectors, is undergoing significant transformation. Artificial intelligence is already enhancing efficiency and productivity across various industries, and it is now making its way into logistics.Self-driving trucks, which were once just a distant concept, have now become a reality and are set to reshape logistics in the coming decade. While some individuals may feel anxious at the thought of "driverless" technology, the truth is quite different: autonomy is not a threat; it is a necessity.AsVice President JD Vancerecently pointed out, this is not the first instance where technology has raised public concern. In the 1970s, people worried the introduction of ATMs would wipe out bank tellers. Instead, the opposite happened: as automation made tellers more productive, banks grew and employment increased.TRUMP'S AI PLAN IS A BULWARK AGAINST THE RISING THREAT FROM CHINATechnology didnt eliminate work; it changed it for the better. The same shift is coming totrucking. Autonomy isnt about replacing people, its about fixing real problems: driver shortages, rising costs and global competition all while making our economy stronger.And the need for solutions is urgent. The AmericanTruckingAssociation reports that the U.S. is currently short 80,000 drivers, a number projected to double by 2030. At the same time, rising logistics costs from 7.5% of GDP in 2020 to 8.7% in 2023, are putting pressure on families and businesses alike.Global competition in this space is fierce, and China is wasting no time, aggressively investing in new technologies.Autonomousfreight systems now operate across85%of its highways, serving major logistics providers and global brands.If the U.S. fails to keep pace, we risk ceding yet another strategic industry to Beijingand with it, the economic and geopolitical influence that comes with leadership in next-generation transportation.AMERICA HAS THE POWER TO LEAD THE AI REVOLUTION AND THE LEADERSHIP TO MAKE IT HAPPENYet within this challenge lies a massive opportunity. By 2035, 13% of U.S. trucks are estimated to beautonomous, representing a$178 billionmarket segment. Globally, theautonomoustruckingsector is projected to reach $616 billion, with estimates of $327 billion for China, $178 billion for the U.S., and $112 billion for Europe.These figures arent hypothetical; they outline a roadmap for leadership, if we have the courage to seize it.Safety is another dividend. With human error responsible for90%of truck accidents, the implementation of full autonomy could lead to savings of approximately $36 billion annually in costs associated with accidents.Likewise, the productivity enhancements are substantial. While human drivers typically operate about 11 hours a day,autonomoustrucks can run nearly nonstop. The result: goods move faster, and consumers get products sooner.Continuous operations will also help to relieve the driver shortage by reserving human drivers for local routes whileautonomoustrucks take on long-haul runs. And as autonomy scales, new jobs in fleet monitoring, maintenance and logistics coordination are emerging.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONIf you want proof this strategy works, look no further than Texas. As governor, I made it a mission to bringautonomoustruckingcompanies to our state not just as a nod to innovation, but as a necessary step for economic survival. That same vision inspired the launch of the Trans-Texas Corridor, a vital answer to a population boom of nearly 23% between 1990 and 2000. And today that growth hasnt slowed, and the stakes are even higher.Clear, consistent regulations at the state level, free from unnecessary red tape, have created an environment where innovation can flourish. Today, driverless rigs haul freight between Dallas and Houston, including overnight runs, equipped with technology that can detect obstacles from three football fields away. According toThe Wall Street Journal, one fleet has impressively logged over 20,000 driverless miles since May evidence that the future of Americanautonomoustruckingis incredibly bright.These breakthroughs have not gone unnoticed. States like Arizona and New Mexico are adopting similar policies to gain the same economic advantages. In contrast, California remains entangled in red tape and bureaucratic inefficiencies. The takeaway is clear: states that remove barriers and embrace innovation wont just attract investment; theyll define the future of freight.The advancements in Texas demonstrate thatautonomoustruckingis a national necessity, not merely a technological experiment. It means faster, safer, more affordable transportation and gives us a decisive edge in a competitive global economy.With that said, Washington should take a cue from the Lone Star State. If it does, we can keep the future of freight stamped "Made in the USA."CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM RICK PERRY