In this session, attendees will learn ten ways that automation is helping haulers meet the challenges of today while preparing for those of tomorrow. In 2020, consumer buying and disposal habits abruptly changed. Remote work became the norm for many, and online ordering — and the resulting shipping materials disposed of at home — changed the waste stream and increased competition for short-run drivers. In the face of these and other disruptions brought about by COVID-19, municipal and private haulers already using digital technologies were more resilient. In-cab computers, software-based route-design tools, camera equipment, and smart-sensors on trucks allowed pinch-hitters to seamlessly service routes when regular drivers were ill or quarantined. They helped haulers recast routes to meet changing demands while providing enhanced customer service and capturing revenue that otherwise would have been lost. Automation also allowed them to better compete for and retain diverse, younger talent during an ongoing driver shortage turned calamitous. The challenges over the last year-and-a-half have revealed that the best time to automate the complexity, time, and tedium out of the waste collection was yesterday.