New tests announced for ‘self-driving’ lorries on UK roads

The UK government announced last week that small convoys of partially self-driving lorries will be trialled on major roads by the end of next year.

The trucks would travel in formation, or ‘platoons’ with a human driver controlling the steering wirelessly to the rest of the vehicles. This is quite a technological feat and has potential of great benefit to fleet and operations managers.

These tests will determine the safety and viability of the self-driving vehicles in platoons, in the interim there are many other ways managers can optimise their fleet performance, improve productivity, reduce costs and improve safety.

Technologies such as Mobile Resource Management (MRM) provide real-time analysis of routes and driver locations. It enables fleet managers to plan more effective routes, eliminate engine idling and reduce fuel consumption.