Innovations and advances in emerging freight technologies, such as autonomous trucks, truck platooning, internet of things, robotics, drone deliveries, and digitalization of the freight industry is changing logistics and the management of the freight transport system. These technologies have the potential to increase productivity, efficiency, reliability, flexibility, safety, sustainability, and economic benefits. But substantial work remains to be done to advance these emerging freight transport technologies and ensure adoptions globally – specifically, around potential applications and impacts, suitable framework conditions for implementation, and the roles of both the public and private sectors in adoption.

This report discusses emerging freight technology trends from around the world. In developing this report, the T.C.2.3.3 Emerging Freight Technology Working Group:

1.developed a short list of emerging freight transport technologies.

2.conducted an extensive review of the literature on medium and high priority emerging freight transport technologies.

3.developed 22 Emerging Freight Technologies Trends Fact Sheets.

4. developed the Final Report. The chapters were developed by a core team of writers and reviewers, followed by compilation, editing, and a QA/QC process.

This report discusses emerging freight transport technologies from around the world categorized as basic freight technologies, freight vehicle technologies, alternative mode of freight technologies, automated freight transport, and freight transport management. It should be noted that the individual technologies covered in this report are in different stages of development (technology readiness) and not all technologies are ready to be implemented in a Low- or Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Regardless of readiness levels, promising emerging technologies identified with substantial impacts to road authorities are autonomous trucks, autonomous delivery robots, air drones, truck parking availability systems, and national heavy vehicle access management systems.

The report also notes that an emerging freight technology that is feasible in a High-Income Country (HIC) may not be applicable in a LMIC. For example, transferring AI to freight transport systems in many LMICs requires a workforce with expertise in machine learning, fail-safe systems in case of an AI malfunction, and cybersecurity to protect AI. On the other hand, air drone deliveries have applicability in both HICs and LMICs. In LMICs, air drones can distribute medicine and medical supplies to remote areas. In HICs, air drones can deliver small packages in congested urban areas.