02/13/2025
🛻 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰 🛻
A trial done by FPInnovations and Kratos has proven that the new self-driving trucking system for natural resources management is safe and effective in remote areas where GPS tracking is not possible. 🛻 🪵
Read more for details 👇
“The initiative aims to accelerate the use of advanced truck technology across the natural resources sector, focusing on forestry and mining,” FPInnovation said. “The success of this tech will serve as a catalyst for introducing connected and autonomous vehicles to the forest sector.”
According to Kratos, who is competing with Elon Musk’s Tesla to bring self-driving trucking technology to market, the tests saw a series of class-8 tractor-trailers go about forestry activities (not under complete control of humans) equipped with the Leader-Follower Platooning system.
“The automated platooning technology performed exceptionally well in the challenging forestry environment and hauled unloaded and loaded timber trailers,” Kratos said in a media release yesterday. “Our system demonstrated precision navigation in automated platooning mode along complex off-pavement roadways with degraded access to GPS, steep grades, severe visibility-limiting dust, sub-freezing temperatures, rain, and under variable lighting conditions.”
Why self-driving technology is critical for forestry
According to FPInnovations, forestry is often reported to be one of Canada’s most dangerous industries – with safety-related incidents occurring during hauling operations on resource roads. Aside from safety concerns, the truck driver labour shortage has plagued the transport industry. In Canada alone, there are 25,000 vacancies in trucking, with Trucking HR Canada predicting that number will increase to 40,400 by 2030. With the aging driver demographic, vacancies are expected to increase, further straining the labour market. The lack of drivers has led to mill shutdowns in the past, and as the shortage increases, this disruption to the supply chain could become a more frequent event."
🔗https://tinyurl.com/mtjdr5u3
FPInnovations BC Council of Forest Industries BC Forest Practices Board Forest Professionals BC BC Trucking Association Truck Loggers Association