Public Road Driving is Next Big Step in Logistics for Self-Driving Vehicles

DHL, a global logistics leader, has today published the new trend report ‘Self-Driving Vehicles in Logistics’, highlighting the key elements and significant potential of autonomous technologies in the logistic industry.

As a first step in the self-driving journey, the trend report contains various best-practice applications from different industries. Applications for self-driving vehicles include:

• Autonomous transport and assisted picking in warehouses
• Autonomous outdoor logistics like yard, harbor and airport operations
• Assisted highway trucking and convoying in line-haul transportation
• Last-mile delivery

“Some warehouse operations have been using self-driving vehicles to some extent for years, but making driving in logistics more and more autonomous will change the logistics sector dramatically,” says Dr. Markus Kückelhaus, Director DHL Trend Research. “Moving onto public roads is the next evolutionary step.”

Self-driving vehicles can provide a wide range of crucial benefits including improved road safety, greater fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact. However, as the trend report explains, autonomous technologies still have some way to go before reaching full maturity.

Considerable catching up is also required regarding regulations, public acceptance, and issues of liability.

Key next steps include:

1. Enhancements to existing driver-assistance functions;
2. The introduction of autonomous driving in specific situations such as on congested highways; and then
3. Fully autonomous truck convoys on highways, 24/7.

The DHL Trend Research report “Self-driving Vehicles in Logistics” is available at www.dhl.com/selfdriving.

Category: Featured, General Update, Management