I was watching Fox News recently and the teaser about the upcoming segment showed two trucks traveling very closely to each other (what I would consider tailgating) and the announcer said " a company is working on making large trucks more fuel efficient and safer through a new application called platooning."  I was very intrigued as I thought these were driverless trucks.  I stayed tuned to the channel and found out these are not driverless trucks at all, but trucks that were wirelessly linked together in order to operate more efficiently and safely.  Let me explain...

Firstly, the company that was highlighted was called Peloton and if you haven't heard about them before, you will now and in the future. You can check out their website here: www.peloton-tech.com/  They are an automated vehicle technology company that utilizes vehicle to vehicle communications and radar based active braking systems, combined with sophisticated vehicle control algorithms to link pairs of heavy trucks in close formation platoons.  The system controls acceleration and braking, but both drivers retain steering control.  The reduction in drag in these platoons provides never seen before fuel economy in both vehicles.  CR England, who is working closely with Peloton, verified that platooning technology saves more than 7% at 65mph – 10% for the rear truck and 4.5% for the lead truck.

Please take a look at their website as there are a few videos there that show platooning in action.  I fully believe that we'll see this technology on our roads within 5-10 years.  And with all the labor problems and FMCSA drama covering hours of service regulations, autonomous (driverless) trucks won't be far behind.

Comments (4)

Joey Slaughter

Joey Slaughter is the owner of Blue Ridge Transport, LLC. Joey has been in the trucking industry since 1992.

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It will interesting to learn more about these changes coming. I do believe that it will be successful.

July 19, 2014 7:35:18 AM

I have a collision mitigation system in my truck. It will match the speed of the truck ahead of me-however at a much greater distance. I definitely would not want to be the driver in the rear truck.

July 19, 2014 6:28:34 AM

Nice article Joey! With these improvements, we'll have less accidents and save on fuel.

July 18, 2014 10:51:38 AM

This is like NASCAR tandem drafting without the big wreck .

July 18, 2014 7:16:33 AM