Research

Container transportation on roads is increasing. The current capacity of the infrastructure needs to be optimized, as expansion is not an available option. Truck platooning refers to automatic driving truck in small convoois. Truck Platooning ensures a smoother traffic flow, as well as fuel savings, CO2 reduction and financial efficiency. It also increases road safety.
The quick scan Truck Platooning shows that Rotterdam has great potential for a successful implementation as soon as a digital matching platform, in order to organize the composition of the platoons, is established.

Opportunities

• Savings – When platooning, trucks are driving in each other’s slipstream. This saves fuel, and thus lowers costs and CO2 emissions.
• A smoother traffic flow – More efficient road usage ensures a smoother traffic flow resulting in saving time and more reliable road transport.
• More efficient use of labour – Truck platooning enables the driver to do extra activities simultaneously. This provides opportunities for a more efficient labour. (To a certain extent, similar to a plane pilot controlling the plane on automatic pilot).
• Increased road safety: Automated driving in a platoon is safer because it decreases the risk of human error (major cause of accidents).
• Data sharing and automation: Collaborating parties share data on the matching platform so it can compose platoons well.

Challenges

• Sharing data – Collaboration and the willingness to make the right data available are required for a successful matching platform that, for example, shows which trucks are available for platooning and determines the order of the trucks.
• Large scale – In order to make the implementation of the technology financially feasible, large scale application is required.
• Truck drivers work activities – How can truck drivers be gainfully employed during platoon driving?
• Adjusting regulation – Regulations will have to be adjusted to roll out truck deployment.

Partners

Port of Rotterdam Authority, Rijkswaterstaat (Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment), TKI-Dinalog, TNO
Container transporters:
BVB Logistics, H.N. Post & Zonen, De Jong­Grauss Transport, Kamps Transport, Overbeek Int. Transport, Post­Kogeko, De Rijke Trucking, Starmans Transporten, Van der Wal Transport
Logistic services providers:
DHL Global Forwarding, Kloosterboer, Maersk Line en Yusen Logistics