Tier IV tests Level 2+ semi-trailer truck in Japan

Tier IV has completed proof of concept tests for long-haul autonomous trucking in Japan alongside Yamato Transport and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation. The trials, conducted from 16 to 20 February as part of a Japanese government initiative, used a semi-trailer truck equipped with Level 2+ autonomous technology to transport customer freight.

The tests covered two round trips totalling approximately 2,000 km between Yamato Transport’s Haneda Chronogate Base in Tokyo and its Kansai Gateway Base in Osaka. The truck operated at Level 2+ for 100 km on the Shin-Tomei Expressway in Shizuoka Prefecture, with drivers required to remain attentive and ready to intervene.

Evaluations focused on vehicle performance, safety protocols and operational workflows. Data collected included trailer motion metrics such as sway and articulation trajectories, as well as hands-off duration and lane-keeping accuracy. The partners also trialled systems that automate elements of pre-trip inspections, including tyre pressure checks, and tested remote vehicle monitoring in preparation for future Level 4 operations.

Schedules were maintained during Level 2+ driving as reliably as during manual operations, the company says. The data and operational insights gathered will be used to refine autonomous driving technology, with the goal of integrating Level 4 trucks into Yamato Group’s long-haul transportation routes.

Source: Tier IV