A pair of identically painted and decorated tanker rigs become a challenge for a motorist in the latest Nissan Rogue commercial. But an automated driving system provides assurance. 
 -  Screenshots via  Nissan USA

A pair of identically painted and decorated tanker rigs become a challenge for a motorist in the latest Nissan Rogue commercial. But an automated driving system provides assurance.

Screenshots via Nissan USA

Last time I wrote about some good looking trailers at the Mid-America Trucking Show a few weeks ago. The other day I saw some unbelievably nice looking tankers… in a TV commercial. It’s a Nissan Rogue ad promoting the builder’s ProPilot Driver Assist, which enables limited hands-free driving with adaptive cruise control.

The situation is a 30-something couple in a new Rogue on a modern four-lane urban freeway at night. They’re approaching a tall cable-stay bridge, and what’s ahead but a pair of semis. One’s in the Number 4 (far right) lane where it should be, and the other’s in the Number 2 (second from left) lane where it shouldn’t, if this were California, but it apparently isn’t.

Oh-oh, the only way past the two tankers is between them. Can the driver handle this? 
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Oh-oh, the only way past the two tankers is between them. Can the driver handle this?

But they sure are handsome rigs, all black with white neon highlights. They’re identical and they stay perfectly within their lanes. Hey, this is a commercial and a lot can be done with computer-generated graphics. At least I think that’s what they are.

The Rogue’s driver boldly approaches the two rigs, which are even more handsome close-up. 
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The Rogue’s driver boldly approaches the two rigs, which are even more handsome close-up.

Anyway, the lady’s driving and the two rigs ahead are cause for concern, at least to her husband (boyfriend?). Their Rogue is in the Number 3 (third from left) lane and coming up on the two rigs. But she’s cool. “It’s OK, I’m on it,” she says confidently, using lines from the latest Star Wars movie that the commercial also promotes.

“Right down the center,” the lady says, and does it. All vehicles stay exactly in their lanes. 
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“Right down the center,” the lady says, and does it. All vehicles stay exactly in their lanes.

She activates ProPilot with a button on the steering wheel, and the Rogue scans ahead, remains in its lane, and takes them right past those fearsome big trucks — “right down the center” — while her hands are barely touching the steering wheel (it’s not a self-driving system, Nissan warns).

And she smiles because ProPilot handles the situation and makes her look good (which she does anyway). Even their little Yorkshire terrier in the back seat approves with two sharp barks.

She and ProPilot have breezed by the tankers, and the lady smiles because she knew they would. 
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She and ProPilot have breezed by the tankers, and the lady smiles because she knew they would.

Know what? I’d love to have ProPilot on my ’99 Lincoln Continental. It's bravely free of any “connectivity,” and until now that’s been fine with me. I’d almost buy a new Nissan Rogue or Altima, which also has the optional feature, just to get it — not to pass fearsome big rigs but to remove some tedium from a long drive.

I’ll bet a lot of truck drivers would also like to have some kind of auto-steering, and someday soon they will, from what autonomous-driving experts are saying. 

As for those two tanker rigs, if they’re more than digital creations, I’d like to see them up close. Say, maybe they’ll be at the next Louisville truck show.

About the author
Tom Berg

Tom Berg

Former Senior Contributing Editor

Journalist since 1965, truck writer and editor since 1978.

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