Future technology has landed in present day road haulage, and everything from cab-based vehicle monitoring equipment to high-capacity
trucks and alternative fuels are becoming increasingly popular among road haulage firms. Cost and practicality are key elements, and the pressure has been on to more easily assimilate technological innovations. It’s not only drivers and operators that can feel the benefits, but new technology promises to help the environment, dramatically increase safety levels, and ultimately bring more profit across the industry.
Demand for freight forwarding has surged in the past few years, and is set to continue to rise as economies improve. The pressure’s on innovators to prepare for the future level of traffic, and new truck designs need to appeal to environmental, safety and practical concerns. Arctics and trailers remain the backbone of road haulage, and new high-capacity designs promise to tick all the boxes.
High Capacity Trucks for road haulage
The International Transport forum, a global think tank made up of 52 member countries, made high capacity trucks the topic of their 2010 report, exploring their impressive capabilities for road haulage. Although now five years old, the report is still relevant for British freight forwarding firms who are still restricted by UK size and weight regulations. The government previously decided that to accommodate larger vehicles, too much change in infrastructure and road management would be called for, and there were worries over higher emissions due to the depletion of rail transport. However many firms have pushed for an update in legislation, and seeing the benefits across other EU countries, it seems likely that these restrictions will have to be re-analysed.
These vehicles have the potential to boost productivity by enabling firms to transport more stock with a smaller fleet, requiring less maintenance and positively contributing to their emissions output. Haulage firms understand the importance of shortening lead times, and these vehicles promise just that. The idea is that costs can be reduced throughout the freight forwarding process, and then passed on to the consumer to ensure future custom. Numerous north European countries started testing vehicles with load capacities of 60 tonnes, and Australia began testing trucks that could hold 77 tonnes back in 2009.
The length and weight of high capacity vehicles pose more safety concerns, but they can be equipped with the latest safety features that alert the driver or intervene when triggered. Lane departure warnings make it clear when any part of the vehicle has strayed across a lane. As well a the usual anti-lock brakes, traction control and yaw control, trucks can be fitted with role stability control, which detects a potential rollover. There’s also adaptive cruise control, curve speed warning, tyre pressure warnings, and even a system to detect driver fatigue. Equipped with these latest innovations, a high capacity vehicle has a significant safety boost, satisfying current regulations. In recent testing these super-sized vehicles proved either equal to, or better than the safety levels of regular trucks, including in lane-change stability and in ensuring the trailers follows the path of the engine. Those lobbying for high capacity vehicles are gaining more of a voice in the UK, and with the rise in freight forwarding, it seems likely they’ll be heard more and more.
Much of these warning safety features are available to fit in regular trucks, but operators have been put off by the time and cost of fitting. However, given the advances in the past few years, benefits are becoming more obvious. Vehicle telematics promise greater safety for many different types of haulage vehicles. 3g cameras are becoming more and more common in freight forwarding fleets, and can actively reduce collisions and save lives. By transmitting footage from the rear and sides of the vehicle, live via a secure 3g network, valuable data can be stored and replayed, capturing near-misses and providing vital footage of collisions. For insurance and legal purposes the cameras have obvious benefits. Footage can also be relayed to a monitor in the cab, giving a driver a panoramic view of the road, other vehicles, cyclists, and obstacles. The system is intelligent, and the monitor will switch cameras when an indicator, or reverse gear is engaged. The affect on road haulage is clear: transparency in collisions, and a greater level of safety on the road. 3g cameras are set to rise in popularity, bringing firms more in line with current safety regulations.
So what is the future of freight logistics?
Back in 2002, Foresight Vehicle Technology Roadmap, an industry, academia and government publication, identified sustainability as the key element for future road transport, saying that an economically and environmentally friendly approach is needed. This is exactly what innovators have been working on. Alternative fuels such as biogas are becoming more popular, as are electric-drive technologies. As well as developing new technologies, the focus has also been on better developing current vehicles. With sustainability in mind, an aerodynamic re-design of trucks can result in a huge fuel-saving. Lighter trucks with rounded edges, equipped with low resistance tyres are effective in cutting fuel costs. Emphasis has also been on building engines and trucks that can cope better with loads and so make fuel last longer. Environmental concerns are top priorities for operators and consumers, and the biggest logistics firms are keen to show reductions in their emissions output.
The technology and innovation is here, and it promises exciting developments in road haulage, but in this competitive industry, firms are reluctant to take their fleet out of action to be fitted with new systems. However, technology firms are now focusing on making their systems easier and more affordable, and given the increasing pressure on the industry to improve safety, emissions, and efficiency, road haulage operators are seeing more and more benefits to new technology. They’re not the only ones. All road users could see a quieter, safer, and less polluting transport network. With this in mind, the next step could be government subsidies for new technologies, meaning the whole industry is brought firmly into the 21st Century.
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