Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen (Infrastructure and the Environment) Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – April 14, 2016

EU transport ministers sign declaration on automated and connected vehicles

The Netherlands has made smart mobility the central theme for the Informal Transport Council during the 2016 EU Presidency.

This meeting was held today, Thursday 14 April, in the Amsterdam Maritime Museum, and brought together 28 European transport ministers.

28 European transport ministers Photo courtesy the 2016 EU Presidency

For the first time they discussed self-driving connected vehicles, cars and trucks.

Hands-on experiences during the European Truck Platooning Challenge 2016 was also on the agenda.

The EU ministers signed a declaration on automated and connected driving.

This reflects the belief that real progress demands far more intensive international cooperation between the European Commission, EU member states and industry.


European Truck Platooning Challenge

During its Presidency of the European Union in 2016, the Netherlands has initiated a European Truck Platooning Challenge.

Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen. Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Six brands of automated trucks - DAF Trucks, Daimler Trucks, Iveco, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania and Volvo Group - have been driving in columns (platooning), on public roads from several European cities to the Netherlands.

Six brands of automated trucks - DAF Trucks, Daimler Trucks, Iveco, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania and Volvo Group - have been driving in columns (platooning), on public roads from several European cities to the Netherlands. Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

The aim of the Challenge was to bring platooning one step closer to implementation. 


Vision Truck Platooning 2025: Creating Next Generation Mobility

The animation below is part of the “Vision Truck Platooning 2025” which was drafted during a 24-hour workshop organised by Rijkswaterstaat and TNO.

Routes truck platoons Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Fifteen complementary experts participated in the workshop from various stakeholders from the European Truck Platooning Challenge network such as truck manufacturers, knowledge institutions, logistics service providers, policy-makers, road authorities, industry representatives and insurance companies.

Six brands of automated trucks - DAF Trucks, Daimler Trucks, Iveco, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania and Volvo Group - have been driving in columns (platooning), on public roads from several European cities to the Netherlands. Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

The “Vision Truck Platooning 2025” has been presented during the European Truck Platooning Conference on 7 April 2016.


Dutch business community welcomes truck platoons


Dutch business is keen to go forward with truck platooning.

As evidenced at today’s European Truck Platooning Challenge, in the period ahead Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Unilever want to conduct increased testing of freight shipments with trucks driving in “trains” along the highway.

Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen. Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Today minister Schultz van Haegen (Infrastructure and the Environment) welcomed six columns of trucks at Maasvlakte II, which had driven from a number of European cities to Rotterdam over the past several days.

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

The European Truck Platooning Challenge, organised by Rijkswaterstaat, featured DAF Trucks, Daimler Trucks, Iveco, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania and Volvo Group; driving in platoons across national borders this marked a global first.

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Truck platooning means that two or three trucks connected by wifi drive in a column, with the first truck determining the speed and route.

This enables shorter gaps between following trucks, while freeing space for other vehicles.

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

The wifi connection between the trucks ensures synchronised braking and can prevent sudden jolt/shock effects.
This is good news for traffic flows and speeds up deliveries.

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Truck platooning can realise up to ten per cent fuel savings.
As well as reducing CO2 emissions, this can also mean a significant savings for businesses.

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Europe

Quoting minister Schultz van Haegen:
“The results of this first ever major try-out in Europe are promising. Truck platooning ensures that transport is cleaner and more efficient. Self-driving vehicles also improve traffic safety because most traffic accidents are due to human error. As the test shows, the technology has come a long way already. What it also makes clear is that we Europeans need to better harmonise rules of the road and rules for drivers. This will open the door for upscaled, cross-border truck platooning. The hands-on experience gained here will be very useful in the informal European transport council on 14 April in Amsterdam. It will certainly help my colleagues and I discuss the adjustments needed to make self-driving transport a reality.”

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

According to Erik Jonnaert, secretary-general of ACEA, the European umbrella organisation representing the six truck manufacturers involved, the benefits of platooning go beyond road transport which is more efficient, safer and kinder to the environment.
“Platooning also reinforces the leadership position of our automotive industry in terms of new technology; this also boosts Europe’s competitive position in the global marketplace. Meanwhile, there are still plenty of barriers in place, that hinder the launch of this technology. With this in mind it is good that the Netherlands has taken the lead in positioning these topics high on the European agenda. Cooperation within the EU is crucial in preventing the development of a patchwork of local rules and procedures, strangling progress.”

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Differences

The Challenge opened on 29 March with the departure of the first “trains” of trucks from a number of European cities.

Columns of trucks from DAF Trucks, Daimler Trucks, Iveco, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania and Volvo Group drove from Sweden, Germany and Belgium to Rotterdam.

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

As shown by the test each country has differing procedures for allowing trucks to drive in platoons.

Right now, a truck manufacturer has to make separate applications for every country to be crossed.
And every manufacturer has its own wifi-system, which prevents the various brands from platooning together.

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

The requirement for truck platoons to carry dedicated number plates in certain countries has been scrapped, and stopping at the border to change plates is now a thing of the past.


Matching road users and develoments

The Dutch business community and the transport sector in particular see good potential for truck platooning.

Unilever, Albert Heijn and Jumbo are in discussions with the government and transport sectors on ways to deploy truck platooning.

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Looking ahead, in due course, truck platoons will drive from the Port of Rotterdam, delivering goods across Europe.

Over the past few days the platoons have been closely monitored and filmed from the air.
This will identify how other traffic responds to the columns.

Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Meanwhile, a joint study is underway with the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB) to see how road users can be actively involved in the introduction of truck platooning.


About us

The European Truck Platooning Challenge 2016 is initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, the Directorate General Rijkswaterstaat, the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) and the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR).

Courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

Challenge Team

A dedicated Challenge team – led from Rijkswaterstaat – will be the main force coordinating activities to realise the Challenge and create a climate whereby truck platooning in Europe is further developed as an ongoing innovation.

From left to right: Odile Arbeit de Chalendar (senior expert intelligent transport systems), Dirk-Jan de Bruijn (Programma Director), Merel van Beekum (secretariat EU Truck Platooning Challenge 2016), Kevin van der Linden (project advisor), Monique Moonen-Rueb(strategic communications advisor), Loes Aarts (senior consultant Road Freight Transport,Rijkswaterstaat), Marouschka Booij (communications advisor), Arjan van Vliet (senior advisor strategy and external developments, Dutch Road Transport Authority), Joris Cornelissen (projectmanager), Bob Dodemont (project leader smart mobility, Port of Rotterdam), Florien van der Windt (senior policy advisor, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment). Missing on the picture: André van Lammeren (Director Mobility and Infrastructure, Rijkswaterstaat), Edwin Nas (projectleader Selfdriving Vehicles, Ministry of Infrastructure and The Environment), Jacqueline Eckhardt (editor), Onno Kronenberg(webeditor), Paul Goerres (project assistant), Tom Alkim (Rijkswaterstaat). Photo courtesy of European Truck Platooning Challenge

For more information, contact:

Marianne Wuite, minister’s spokesperson:
+31 06 20013687

Paul Trienekens, spokesperson EU Truck Platooning (Rijkswaterstaat):
+31 06 46172133

Press Contact:

If you have any queries about the European Truck Platooning Challenge 2016, please contact:

Monique Moonen-Rueb
monique.moonen-rueb@rws.nl  
+31 (0)6 55 33 73 07.

6th European Transport Research Conference

Start
2016-04-18 at 00:00

End
2016-04-21 at 23:00

Location
Warsaw, Poland

International conference about innovative solutions for tomorrow’s mobility

http://www.traconference.eu  

PGE Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland. Photo courtesy of 6th European Transport Research Conference

Dear TRA2016 Conference Participants,
Please find below the possible entrances to the PGE Narodowy and TRA2016 registration area:

Participants coming by bus or tram:
Rondo Waszyngtona stop
entry through gate No. 2
reception desk – go up the stairs to level 0

Participants coming by underground:
Stadion Narodowy station
entry through gate No. 10
go through the external ring via the Outside Exhibition on the level -1
reception desk – go up the stairs to level 0

Participants coming by SKM train and Koleje Mazowieckie train:
Warszawa Stadion station
entry through gate No. 10
go through the external ring via the Outside Exhibition on the level -1
reception desk – go up the stairs to level 0

Participants coming by TAXI:
drop off point – gate No. 10
entry through gate No. 10
go through the external ring via the Outside Exhibition on the level -1
reception desk – go up the stairs to level 0

Participants coming by car:
entry by gate No. 6 at Wybrzeże Szczecińskie street, car park on level -3
reception desk – come by the lift to level 0

Accessibility for disabled participants:
from Waszyngtona Roundabout, gate No. 1 through Królaka tunnel, on level -4
reception desk – come by the lift to level 0

Mobility Plan TRA Conference 2016, 18-21.04.2016 Photo courtesy of 6th European Transport Research Conference

Conference Agenda

https://www.conftool.pro/traconference/sessions.php  


Source: European Truck Platooning Challenge

https://www.eutruckplatooning.com/default.aspx  



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