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Scania Tests Autonomous Platooning in Singapore
<img width="150" src="http://www.automotive-fleet.com/fc_images/news/m-scania-300x160-1.jpg" border="0" alt="
Example of an autonomous truck platoon. Photo: Scania
" >Example of an autonomous truck platoon. Photo: Scania
" width="300" height="160">Scania will design a full-scale autonomous truck platooning operation, based on its own advanced technology, which will use public roads while transporting containers between port terminals in Singapore. The aim is to organize convoys of four trucks — with the following three trucks behind the lead truck autonomously driven, as well as to fully automate the processes for precise docking and undocking of cargo. Singapore has already tested autonomous cars, taxis, utility vehicles and buses.
“Autonomous vehicles and platooning are cornerstones of future sustainable transport systems,” said Claes Erixon, head of Research and Development at Scania. “This is a great opportunity to demonstrate our leadership and technology in this new exciting area. We are pioneering in this field, which has the potential not only to save lives in traffic, but also to significantly decrease the environmental impact of transport.”
The multi-year project was organized by the Ministry of Transport and the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA Corporation). Toyota is also participating in this project, according to Scania.
“Trucking as we know it today is a highly labor-intensive industry. We face a shortage of truck drivers. In this regard, truck platooning technology presents us with an opportunity to boost productivity in both the port sector and the trucking industry. It will also open up opportunities for truck drivers to take on higher-skilled roles as fleet operators and managers,” said Pang Kin Keong, permanent secretary for Transport and chairman of the Committee on Autonomous Road Transport in Singapore (CARTS).
With the vehicle population in Singapore approaching 1 million, the Initiative seeks to address the increasing travel demand and land constraints; 12% of Singapore's total land is used for road and land transport infrastructure. Additionally, it faces a shortage of drivers, according to Scania.
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For-Hire Freight Volume Rises to Second Highest Level in 2 Years
<img width="150" src="http://www.automotive-fleet.com/fc_images/news/m-january-tsi-graphic-original-1.jpg" border="0" alt="
Graphic: U.S. DOT
" >Graphic: U.S. DOT
" width="400">The amount of freight moved by the nation's for-hire transportation sector rose 0.5% in November from the month before, according to new Transportation Department figures.
This second consecutive monthly hike puts the Freight Transportation Services Index (Freight TSI) at a level of 123.2, just 1.2% below the all-time high level of 124.7 hit this past July and the second highest level since December 2014.
The October index was revised upward to 122.6 from 122 and the September index was adjusted higher from 120.8 to 121.1. Monthly numbers for July and August were revised up slightly as well.
The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in for-hire freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight
The November increase was broad as all freight modes grew from October, except for pipeline. According to the report, the November rise took place in the context of mixed signals in other economic indicators that often impact transportation – employment increased by 178,000 jobs, retail sales rose by 0.1%, and personal income grew by less than 0.1%, while the Federal Reserve Board Industrial Production index declined by 0.4%, and housing starts declined by 4.7% from October.
The 0.5% Freight TSI rise in November combined with the October increase of 1.2% brought the index to 1.7% above its September level, the low-point since March. Over the last 12 months the index rose in eight months and declined in four months, for a total increase of 2%.
For-hire freight shipments measured by the index were up 1.5% in November compared to the end of 2015 while November 2016 for-hire freight shipments were up 2% from November ...Read the rest of this story