The Technology Era, Truck Platooning, Truck Drivers’ Activity, and Risk Awareness

Abstract

Technological development in the automotive industry is shaping the future of transport services to meet the mobility needs of the population and ensure the timely provision of the required goods, when and where they are needed. Thus, innovative solutions for decarbonization and economic improvement are being put into practice, imposing risk awareness and behavioral adaptation. In the field of Transport, the coming years will require a focus on providing transport systems with robust adaptability to rapid, unexpected changes, planning, and learning from each one. This requires human resources to be prepared for continuous learning, adapting their activity to the technological development, and stimulating creativity as a resource to anticipate, adapt, and improve. In this perspective, new needs and priorities have been identified to be met by anticipating and reinforcing adaptation capacity and by constructing innovative knowledge and tools to support the required adaptation to a changing world and rapid technological development.Automation appears to be an appropriate solution, particularly the introduction of truck platooning to improve efficiency in the European freight transport market. Driver-assistive truck platooning involves a convoy of two or more trucks, with a human driver in the lead truck and a partial automated system controlling the following trucks. These vehicles use connectivity technology, such as Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication and Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC), to automatically maintain a close, predefined distance. The technology offers benefits such as reduced fuel consumption through aerodynamics, improved traffic flow, and enhanced road capacity, while drivers remain in control and can intervene when necessary.

Keywords: Truck Platooning, Road Safety, Drivers’ Activity, Connectivity, Communication

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007852