Japan’s New Automated Cargo Transport System to Ease Driver Shortage

Japan has announced a plan to launch an automated cargo transport system between Tokyo and Osaka. This advanced solution is set to address the severe shortage of truck drivers nationwide. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

An Ambitious Automated Cargo Transport System

The new automated cargo transport system will run along a three-lane corridor on a dedicated highway, where large, wheeled vehicles will transport cargo automatically. The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism is overseeing the project, aiming for trial runs by 2027, with full operation expected by the mid-2030s.

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Yuri Endo, a senior director at the ministry, expressed Japan’s goal to innovate its road infrastructure for logistics. This approach will not only tackle the driver shortage but also reduce workload and carbon emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future.

According to Endo, the project’s central concept is creating specialized transportation lanes within the existing road network. This setup will allow for a 24-hour, automated cargo transport process that minimizes human intervention and ensures uninterrupted delivery services.

Addressing Japan’s Growing Logistics Needs

Japan’s approach might seem unique, but similar concepts are under consideration in other countries. Switzerland, for instance, explores an underground transport system, while London considers a linear motor-driven logistics route. Such projects showcase global interest in automated transportation solutions for densely populated or resource-constrained regions.

In Japan, the cargo-loading processes will be fully automated, employing forklifts coordinated with ports, railways, and airports. The transport boxes will be approximately six feet in height and 3.6 feet in both width and length, offering a compact yet efficient solution for business and commercial deliveries.

If the system proves successful, Japan may expand it to additional routes nationwide. Last-mile deliveries might still require human drivers, but driverless technology could eventually cover this segment, streamlining the entire delivery chain.

Japan’s truck driver shortage has been exacerbated by recent regulations limiting driver overtime, aimed at reducing fatigue and improving road safety. These changes have intensified the need for innovative logistics solutions, pushing the government to address what is commonly known as the “2024 problem” in the transportation industry.

Under current conditions, the Japanese government estimates a 34% drop in transport capacity by 2030, with nearly 91% of Japan’s 4.3 billion metric tons of cargo moved by trucks. In comparison, the U.S. moves over 5.2 trillion ton-miles of freight annually, projected to reach 8 trillion ton-miles by 2050. The ton-mile metric helps to understand the scale and distribution of logistics in each country.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan saw a significant rise in online shopping, with delivery demand increasing as more households adopted e-commerce. Government statistics reveal that the share of households engaged in online shopping jumped from 40% to over 60%, adding strain to an already limited logistics capacity in a country with a declining population.

Truck drivers in Japan face challenging work conditions, often spending several days on the road, a factor that deters many prospective jobseekers. While annual fatalities from truck accidents have dropped from around 2,000 in 2010 to about 1,000 today, safety remains a high priority for the Japan Trucking Association.

In addition to advocating for safer practices, the association encourages consumers to bundle delivery orders or reduce unnecessary orders. Some industry experts have also suggested that companies limit free delivery options to help manage rising demand.

Trucking remains vital to Japan’s economy, handling nearly 90% of domestic cargo and transporting approximately 60% of the nation’s fresh produce from rural areas to major cities. Yuji Yano, a professor at Ryutsu Keizai University, emphasizes the role of trucking in Japan’s food distribution system, with significant contributions from companies like Nippon Express (now NX Holdings), which supports research and development in logistics.

Japan’s automated cargo transport system reflects a long-term vision for modernizing its supply chain while addressing the ongoing truck driver shortage. By innovating its logistics infrastructure, Japan is positioning itself to meet the future demands of efficient, automated transportation.

Photo, source: japantoday.com

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