The Future of Transport with the Introduction of Truck Platooning

The transport industry is always looking for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs. One area that has seen significant innovation in recent years is the introduction of truck platooning.

Truck platooning is a system where two or more trucks drive closely together, with the lead truck controlling the speed and braking of the entire group. This allows for a more efficient use of space on the road, as well as reduced fuel consumption and emissions.

Platooning has been shown to be safe and efficient in tests, and is already being used by some transport companies on a limited basis. Over the next decade, it is predicted we will see the technology being trialed, rolled out and adopted and there have been plenty of interest with moving companies Christchurch and across New Zealand expressing interest. It is expected that the use of platooning will increase in the future, as more companies look for ways to save money and be more efficient.

Truck platooning has the potential to revolutionize the transport industry, making it more efficient and environmentally friendly. It will be interesting to see how the technology develops and grows in the coming years.

How would it change the transport landscape?

There is no doubt that the technology behind truck platooning is revolutionary, it has the opportunity to totally change the transport industry which is definitely exciting. 

The main benefit of platooning is that it can help to improve fuel efficiency by up to 15%, this is due to the fact that when trucks drive closely together, there is less wind resistance which in turn requires less fuel to maintain the same speed. In a time where diesel prices are ever-increasing, this could be a huge saving. Another advantage is the ability for the leading truck to slow platooning trucks safely and far more quickly with a response time that cannot be achieved in driver sight scenarios. This creates a flow on effect and produces many advantages including having more trucks on the road and having products transported to destinations in shorter time frames.

Shorter transport times also lead to another big advantage, and that is fresher products. This is especially beneficial for companies who transport food items as they will now be able to get their products to stores in an even quicker time frame, which means the food will be of a higher quality for customers when they purchase it.

What are some of the challenges?

As the technology evolves over time to include autonomous trucks equipped with driving support systems and connectivity, there are certain challenges that will need to be addressed.

One of the challenges is the increased cost for transport companies to purchase these types of trucks. Furthermore, if there are differing trucks in the fleet with different specifications, one truck may not keep up with the convoy if the size of the engine is not equivalent or if the carrying load differs greatly, the braking time may be impacted.

The other is around how the wider transport industry will need to adapt to accommodate platooning trucks on our roads. As some are reluctant to share road space with autonomous vehicles, more so the unpredictable weather conditions can impact the precision platooning needs to function correctly.

States and transport authorities will also need to work together on cross-border transport regulation as well as agree on issues such as insurance, responsibility in the event of an incident and managing traffic congestion.

Although, there are some areas that need to be further improved with this technology, reduced fuel consumption and increased safety are just two of its multiple benefits that will make a huge difference to the future of transportation.