Technology
Commercial freight transportation businesses rely on data, intelligence, and novel solutions for operational efficiency. Transport Topics technology coverage investigates available technologies, real-world applications of business solutions, and the strategies necessary for advancement. News topics focus on the latest applied science, and issues range from autonomous vehicle and robotics innovations to management software, tracking and transparency, data analytics, blockchain, and the internet of things.
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s Request for ELD Delay Draws Rebuke
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill published a letter Nov. 29 asking the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to delay the electronic logging device rule, a move that prompted a quick response from the trucking industry.
Efficient Drivetrains Announces New Class 8 Products
Efficient Drivetrains Inc. expanded its EDI PowerDrive product line to include a new powertrain suitable for Class 8 vehicle applications.
December 1, 2017Automation Could Kill 73 Million US Jobs by 2030
Automation could destroy as many as 73 million U.S. jobs by 2030, but economic growth, rising productivity and other forces could more than offset the losses, according to a new report by McKinsey Global Institute.
Campbell Is Testing Online Soup Delivery
Campbell Soup Co. is testing an online service that will deliver soups to customers’ doors, part of an effort by the 148-year-old food giant to shake off a sales slump and update its business model.
ACT Seeks Participants in Study of Electric Vehicle Market
ACT Research Co. is developing a multiclient study to define a vision of the United States and Canada market potential for electric medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles stretching into the year 2035.
December 1, 2017General Motors Says Self-Driving Taxi Fleets Coming in 2019
Big fleets of robot taxis — with no backup drivers — from General Motors could hit the streets of San Francisco and other cities in less than two years, the company said Nov. 30.
Analysis: Recent Merger in China May Herald a Revolution in Hauling Freight
On Nov. 27, China’s two largest apps for delivering Uber-like services for truckers and cargo owners agreed to merge. The resulting $2 billion behemoth is likely to reduce delays, cut down on pollution and improve life for the country’s 30 million truck drivers.
Warehouses Are Getting Bigger, Taller, Faster
Those boxes piling up on your doorstep over the holidays don’t ship from Santa’s workshop. As Americans spend more money shopping online, real estate developers are sinking record amounts of money into new warehouse space, building bigger, taller structures to meet the needs of e-commerce — and the robots that help it along.
Toyota Plans Hydrogen Fuel Cell Plant at Long Beach
Canadian ELD Mandate Would Improve Safety, Efficiency, Industry Stakeholders Say
Mandating electronic logging devices in Canada would separate conscientious fleets from those who do not prioritize safety, according to Stephen Laskowski, president of the Ontario Trucking Association and the Canadian Trucking Alliance.