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    "text": "In my latest @reason.org, I examine Japan's proposed \"autoflow road\" that's gotten some attention online. \n\nThe engineering is cool, but the economics are much more dubious--especially when compared to ongoing road and rail vehicle automation efforts. \n\nreason.org/transportati...",
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          "alt": "A shrinking truck driver workforce and a new labor policy limiting driver hours have spawned a looming logistics crisis in Japan, known as the “2024 problem.” Japanese industry turned quickly to automation as a potential solution. The government, for its part, has been similarly investigating automated freight transportation, including new dedicated infrastructure and cargo vehicles that would constitute a new mode of surface transportation. Japan’s approach to its partially self-inflicted logistics problem can be contrasted with freight automation efforts in the United States, where developers of automated road and rail cargo vehicles plan to mostly leverage existing infrastructure.\n\nIn April 2024, the Japanese government ended an exemption on overtime hours for truck drivers. These stricter labor regulations coupled with a shrinking driver workforce have alarmed the broader business community that is dependent on reliable freight movements. In response to widespread concern that government policies have amplified a looming goods-movement crisis, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism established a Study Group on Automated Logistics Roads that began meeting in Feb. 2024.",
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          "alt": "On Oct. 10, 2024, the Study Group published a market sounding survey (Microsoft Word document in Japanese) for the preferred project type. They envision a fully automated (including loading and unloading) cargo transportation system capable of moving 3.6-foot Type 11 pallets up to 5.9 feet tall that would be propelled by clean energy at 18 mph.\n\nThe automated logistics road must utilize existing road space between Tokyo and Osaka (e.g., highway medians on the Tomei Expressway, Shin-Tomei Expressway, Meishin Expressway, and Shin-Meishin Expressway). The 320-mile system should have at least eight stops (one for each prefecture between Tokyo and Osaka) and be able to handle between 120,000 and 140,000 tons of cargo per day.\n\nThe market sounding survey explicitly asked about contractor qualifications to develop the automated logistics road as a public-private partnership. The survey further suggested that a concession consortium should involve companies with expertise in infrastructure design-build, financing, vehicle manufacturing, system operation, toll collection, maintenance, and disaster recovery. Responses were due to the Study Group on Nov. 7.",
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    "createdAt": "2024-12-04T23:18:48.658Z"
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