ITS UK: freight experts call for technology to support deliveries

Members of ITS (UK)’s Freight Interest Group have raised concerns that relying on autonomous vehicles and platooning to provide future solutions may be diverting attention away from current technology which could help in the short-to-medium-term, at the Industry 4.0 Summit in Manchester. The group suggested that logistics efficiency could be improved by better communication with light goods vehicle drivers. Additionally, signal timing technology could decrease the number of stops that Heavy Goods Vehicles
March 5, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

Members of ITS (UK)’s Freight Interest Group have raised concerns that relying on autonomous vehicles and platooning to provide future solutions may be diverting attention away from current technology which could help in the short-to-medium-term, at the Industry 4.0 Summit in Manchester.

The group suggested that logistics efficiency could be improved by better communication with light goods vehicle drivers. Additionally, signal timing technology could decrease the number of stops that Heavy Goods Vehicles make in towns and city centres to help reduce congestion and emissions, and that this technology has been successful with lorries transporting wings for Airbus planes moving to Bristol.

At the event, the forum heard how the production of some goods are finished and packaged locally in an added value logistics warehouse or fulfilment centre and then taken the last few miles for delivery. The new ways of working highlight the need for the logistics industry to utilise alternatives to deiseal lorries to comply with green city aspirations.

Geoff Clarke, hon secretary of the Freight Interest Group of %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external AECOM Aecom Website Link false http://www.aecom.com/ false false%>, said: “It was heartening to hear many interesting ideas for using technology to assist logistics in the future. Many of those solutions exist today in the passenger transport industry and could easily be used by and for freight companies as well. At the event where the way factories will operate in the future was showcased, it is clear that the freight industry will have to embrace more technology in order to keep up.”

Jennie Martin, ITS (UK) secretary general, added: “The Industry 4.0 Summit showed a lot about how the Internet of Things and blockchain will revolutionise manufacturing, and with logistics as a key part of the supply chain, there are many opportunities for the technology to play its part in the delivery of those goods as well. ITS (UK)'s range of expertise can help facilitate an understanding of these emerging solutions.

Related Content

  • ITS Asia Pacific Forum 2020: entry reminder
    August 30, 2019
    The ITS Asia Pacific (AP) Forum 2020 is accepting entries on the theme of ‘ITS Innovation Creating Liveable Communities’ until 6 September. The programme committee invites submissions for consideration as either scientific, technical or commercial papers. They are also accepting entries for special interest sessions. Additionally, AP 2020 has opened the Future Leaders Programme to recent graduates under 30 years old, allowing them to develop skills they need for academic and professional careers.
    Read More
  • Curiosity Lab enters partnership on AV research
    September 12, 2019
    A US transport research organisation has partnered with the Georgia Institute of Technology and Delta Airlines to advance autonomous vehicle (AV) and infrastructure research. Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners is a 5G-enabled autonomous vehicle (AV) test bed with a 1.5 mile AV track. The deal will provide Georgia Tech researchers with access to Curiosity Lab’s test track and laboratory. The lab features dedicated fibre, smart poles and a network operations centre for researchers to track data from connecte
    Read More
  • call PSAP workshop
    August 21, 2014
    Ertico-ITS Europe has announced the date of its eCall Way Forward, PSAP Workshop. This workshop will address the technical and operational issues surrounding the upgrade of Member State Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to effectively deal with all forms of eCall. The event is for Ertico Partners only (and special guests) and will be held at the ERTICO premises in Brussels on 3 September 2014 from 1000 to 1630. To register, please click on the following link
    Read More
  • Transportation committee chairman’s successful driverless car trip
    September 5, 2013
    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Bill Shuster witnessed firsthand a demonstration of driverless automobile technology, when he rode from suburban Pittsburgh to Pittsburgh International Airport in Carnegie Mellon University’s driverless vehicle. Shuster was joined yesterday by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation secretary Barry Schoch for the thirty-mile trip in the driverless 2011 Cadillac SRX. The fully automated vehicle safely navigated the route, which included various dri
    Read More

Highlighted Content