The Impacts of Connected and Automated Vehicle Technologies on Goods Movement and Distribution in North America

Though often overshadowed by passenger transportation in discussions of Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technology, goods movement across North America is evolving rapidly to take advantage of efficiencies facilitated by new technologies and to keep up with changing consumer demand trends. CAV technology is nascent and its eventual impact on the industry is uncertain; many industry players remain skeptical of opportunities for industry reinvention, particularly in the short-term. However, there are early indications of this technology’s safety, employment, financial, and land-use implications. This paper examines the impacts that CAV technology will bring to goods movement operations over the next two decades, particularly in the context of increasing demand for fast, frequent home delivery. Specifically, this paper focuses on truck-based freight with respect to long-distance hauling, and both trucks and automated off-road vehicles (such as drones and sidewalk-based unmanned delivery vehicles) for the purposes of last-mile solutions. Beyond changes to vehicle technologies and operations, changes to distribution centre (DC) scaling, location, and operation are reviewed. Private and government initiatives are explored, as is the use of electricity as a fuel source for freight vehicles. This paper includes primary research gathered through interviews with several large retailers and freight transport/logistics firms to establish baseline use of CAV technology in freight operations, and the likely role of CAV technology over the next decade. Primary research is supplemented by a literature review.

• Record URL:
  http://ctrf.ca/?page_id=4419
• Corporate Authors:

  Canadian Transportation Research Forum

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Knowles, A
  • Lightstone, A
• Conference:
  • Canadian Transportation Research Forum 52nd Annual Conference - Canadian Transportation: 150 Years of Progress//Les transports au Canada : 150 ans de progrès - Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 28-31, 2017
• Publication Date: 2017

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: 1 PDF file, 213 KB, 8p.
• Monograph Title: Canadian Transportation Research Forum 52nd Annual Conference - Canadian Transportation: 150 Years of Progress//Les transports au Canada : 150 ans de progrès - Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 28-31, 2017

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Connected vehicles; Delivery service; Delivery vehicles; Drones; Dwellings; Forecasting; Freight transportation; Logistics; Planning; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• ITRD Terms: 1244: Autonomous vehicle; 8018: Canada; 8525: Conference; 1253: Connected vehicle; 284: Delivery; 1234: Delivery vehicle; 1299: Drone; 308: Dwelling; 5911: Efficiency; 132: Forecast; 1112: Freight transport; 264: Logistics; 1236: Lorry; 143: Planning
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01678284
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Files: ITRD, TAC
• Created Date: Aug 22 2018 1:42PM