Daimler Trucks, a unit of Germany's Daimler AG, has revealed a prototype of its "Future Truck 2025," a driverless long-haul truck that can speed along highways at 80 kilometers per hour lugging a full load.

There is currently a shortage of truck drivers in the EU.

Previously, Daimler's future truck took its initial driverless trip on a highway near the city of Magdeburg in Germany. The future truck, which doesn't yet have a name or designation, is being developed for travel in European Union (EU) countries.

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Daimler said the unveiling of the truck was intended to open a dialogue with all stakeholders about the conditions for transport in the future where self-driving trucks will play a major role.

Freight transport volumes in the EU are projected to rise by some 20 percent by 2025. Trucks are expected to account for 75 percent of all freight transported by road in the EU.

In Germany, the volume of road transport should rise from the current 3.7 billion tons to 5.5 billion tons by 2050, said the German government.

Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, a member of Daimler's Board of Management responsible for Daimler Trucks, said the truck of the future is a Mercedes-Benz that drives itself.

"Autonomous driving will revolutionize road freight transport and create major benefits for everyone involved," said Dr. 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 said driverless or autonomous trucks will relieve the dangers of long-distance driving such as drowsy driving while allowing truckers to do other jobs in the cabs of their trucks.

Ideally, the new technology will make it possible for drivers to be promoted to new positions such as transport managers.