How do we make the trucking industry more efficient?
Qi Luo, assistant professor in the department of business analytics at the University of Iowa, examines one possible solution.
Qi Luo’s research focuses on data-driven decision-making in operations management and emerging mobility systems. His work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the TRB Kikuchi-Karlaftis Best Paper Award, INFORMS APS Best Student Paper (finalist), IEEE-IV Best Paper (finalist), and the IISE Best Paper Award (Work Systems Division). Luo’s research is supported by multiple federal grants, including the National Science Foundation.
Designating Rural Highway Lanes For Semi-Automated Trucks
The heavy-truck industry in the United States is facing significant challenges that are going to get worse. A severe driver shortage, stricter compliance regulations, and rising fuel costs have combined to put unprecedented pressure on freight haulers. For example, the American Trucking Association estimated a shortage of around 80,000 drivers in 2021. This shortage leads to longer shipping times, higher operational costs, and strained supply chains.
To address these challenges, we propose opening nighttime truck-only lanes on rural highways. These lanes would be reserved for semi-autonomous trucks during overnight hours when roads are at their emptiest. Semi-autonomous trucks can assist drivers by handling much of the driving on dedicated lanes and reduce their workload.
Our optimization framework and case studies have revealed the substantial benefits of this approach in enhancing delivery efficiency. Moving trucks to nighttime lanes would reduce daytime traffic congestion, allowing both trucks and passenger cars to travel faster. Trucks could also form platoons to improve fuel efficiency. Additionally, semi-autonomous technology can reduce accidents caused by driver fatigue, which contributes to 15% – 40% of truck-related crashes.
Our goal is to emphasize the importance of building an ecosystem where autonomy assists drivers, not replaces them. Truck drivers are essential workers in complex environments, but their roles would shift to supervisory tasks as operators in these nighttime truck-only lanes. We can leverage smart infrastructure, autonomous driving technology, novel fleet management strategies, and supportive transport policy, to create a more efficient and sustainable trucking industry.
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