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.
Editorial: The Human Element for Automated Technology
Across three industry events in the span of just a few days last week, the evolution of automated driving was front and center, with everyone from government leaders to technology innovators looking ahead to how — and at what pace — automation might someday reshape the trucking industry.
February 28, 2019Daily Briefings from Transport Topics
Transport Topics has partnered with Spoken Layer to make one-minute daily briefings available on all your smart devices. Simply say “Alexa, play Transport Topics” or “Okay Google, talk to Transport Topics” to get the day’s biggest trucking headlines.
CARB Continues Quest for an Electric Medium-, Heavy-Truck Future
California environmental regulators are working on a plan to speed up the deployment of electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks operating on the state’s streets and highways.
Get Smart: Best Practices for Rightsizing Your Trailer Fleet
Not long ago, trailer telematics was tech only top fleets employed. Today, soaring adoption rates signal trailer management is critical to crushing it in a high-demand market. Hear from seasoned pros at marquee transportation companies tell how they are maximizing utilization, rightsizing busy trailer fleets, and killing the competition.
February 28, 2019BMW, Daimler Team on Automated Driving Technology
FRANKFURT, Germany — BMW and Daimler announced Feb. 28 they will work together on developing the automated driving technology expected to transform the industry in the years ahead as automakers try to fend off competition from tech companies such as Uber and Waymo.
FMCSA’s Ray Martinez Urges Carriers to Convert AOBRDs to ELDs
DALLAS — Ray Martinez, the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, urged carriers to complete the trucking industry’s transition to electronic logging devices and expressed optimism about the potential to add flexibility to driver hours-of-service rules.
Transport Topics Launches Daily Briefings on Smart Speaker Platforms
Transport Topics now offers a daily news briefing available each weekday morning via smart speaker devices, such as Amazon Echo and Google Home.
February 28, 2019House Transportation Leader DeFazio Offers Infrastructure Legislation Roadmap
Speaking to reporters at a conference hosted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials on Feb. 27, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) explained that his committee would most likely tackle infrastructure policy via two paths.
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Addresses Autonomous Tech, Infrastructure at AASHTO Briefing
WASHINGTON — Widespread adoption of autonomous vehicle technologies depends largely on public trust, according to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Autonomous technology can take a variety of forms in transportation, from lane-departure warning systems and automated brakes to truck platooning. Automated technologies have, however, raised public concern over security and privacy.
Hyundai Plans $40 Billion in Spending Over Next Five Years
Hyundai Motor Co. joined automakers pledging massive spending in the years ahead to address the industry’s transformation and fend off new competition from the likes of Tesla Inc.
Omnitracs Aims to Boost Fleet Efficiency by Migrating to ‘Cloud-Native’ Platform
DALLAS — Omnitracs has embarked on a mission to reduce wasted time and inefficiency in trucking by harnessing the latest advances in cloud computing and software design.