Technology

In a bid to achieve the practical use of self-driving flying cars in the 2020s, the government will establish a public-private council possibly within this year to discuss safety issues, technological development and other matters, Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

The use of cargo sensors with trailer tracking is on the rise, suppliers said, while motor carriers work to improve utilization and boost driver satisfaction with the technology.

CAT Scale's Weigh My Truck app allows drivers to pay for and receive their weights right from the cab using a smartphone or tablet; saving up to 30 minutes per weigh. Fleets have access to valuable back end data and payment control.

The development of self-driving trucks and how they might one day revolutionize the shipment of goods inland has been widely reported. However, while lower on the radar screen, automated container ports are increasingly available for use and already have begun to benefit motor carriers in several ways, industry experts said.

Nikola Motor Co. has awarded a contract to Nel Hydrogen for 448 electrolyzers — which separate water into hydrogen and oxygen — and associated fueling equipment, as Nikola prepares to roll out a fueling network in the United States of 30 stations to support commercial and passenger vehicles operating on hydrogen fuel cells.

Autonomous technology will be among the topics to be examined at the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee meetings scheduled for July 30-31, federal trucking regulators announced.

NEW YORK — Waiting is so yesterday. Shoppers increasingly want their orders to arrive at their doorsteps as soon as they click a button, whether it’s a hot meal, groceries or a sofa. In response, retailers are betting big on delivery services to drop off packages faster.

Preparing for autonomous vehicles on American roads will mean more than getting used to being in a car without a steering wheel.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — The strength of the overall economy, helped especially by the healthy construction and housing markets as well as fleets’ desires to have late-model equipment to recruit and retain drivers, is bolstering sales for Peterbilt Motors Co.

If your least favorite part of food shopping is the parking lot, take comfort: Driverless cars are coming to the grocery industry.