Automated Driving Systems (ADS) are set to revolutionize the transportation system. In this project, the research team led by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute developed and documented a concept of operations (CONOPS) that informs the trucking industry, government agencies, and non-government associations on the benefits of ADS and the best practices for implementing this technology into fleet operations.
The primary goals of the CONOPS project were to:
This research found that the path forward to maintain public acceptance and achieve goals of ADS-equipped CMV operational cost-effectiveness, increased freight productivity, and reduction of crashes is through human operational assurance of vehicle, automation, freight, and public safety through specification, maintenance, inspections, monitoring, insurance, metrics, roadway assessment, and secure communications, as well as continuous lifecycle performance checks
To demonstrate the applications of ADS technology in day-to-day truck-driving tasks to fleet personnel and the general public, the research team provided audiences with first-hand experiences with ADS and showcased how this technology can improve truck driving safety, support drivers, reduce human errors, and optimize fleet operations at three major public events: the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) America annual meeting (December 2021), the Technology Maintenance Council (TMC) annual meeting (March 2022), and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) annual conference (September 2023). The research team also used opportunities at these conference events, attended by members of the trucking industry, to collect information on personnel expectations of ADS technology and what applications of the technology would be attractive to their operations.
Feedback on lessons learned from these events was also distributed on a rolling basis at various other academic conferences. The VTTI team attended over 20 conference sessions, sharing information about the project as it was obtained.
This report may be useful to fleets and drivers, policy- and decision-makers, ADS developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), law enforcement, and the general public who will share the road with ADS vehicles in the future.
The research team demonstrated the implications of implementing ADS technologies across three operational use cases, including public roads and private intermodal ports. ADS capabilities were evaluated using human factors analyses of organizational elements and roles through collected observational and interview data to evaluate the impacts of automation implementation. This approach describes a baseline evaluation of the organization before automation, and the subsequent analysis following the gradual implementation of autonomous vehicles. The analyses address both organizational and individual elements, integrating them into a macro cognitive model that examines human involvement within their tasks and roles.
This report is valuable for fleets, policymakers, ADS developers and the public, offering insights into the challenges and benefits of implementing ADS in a manner that is safe and efficient for all road users.
The implementation of Automated Driving System (ADS)-equipped trucks as part of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) involved three main use cases: port queuing, cross-country trips, and fleet integration. Each use case was designed to demonstrate the practical uses and data gathering capabilities of ADS technology. In the port queuing scenario at the Port of Oakland, efforts focused on refining ADS that could operate outside the port to reduce hours drivers lose waiting to enter the port to load or unload intermodal containers, with adjustments made to Pronto's technology to accommodate the unique driving behaviors typical at ports. The cross-country trips saw ADS-equipped trucks traverse various U.S. routes to evaluate infrastructure readiness, gathering data on lane markings, GPS signal strength, cellular connectivity, and road conditions. This information was utilized to develop a road readiness rating system, which is advantageous for government bodies and policymakers. Lastly, the fleet integration use case at the Port of Whittier in Alaska aimed to explore the organizational effects of integrating ADS into trucks that support marine-to-rail port operations, collecting data through observations and interviews to assess tasks, risks, and organizational structures.
These deployments are crucial for stakeholders like government agencies, technology developers, and infrastructure planners who benefit from detailed evaluations and operational insights provided by the extensive data collection.
The sections of Chapter 5 provide guidance on a range of topics for fleets to consider and apply when preparing to deploy ADS-equipped CMVs in their fleet. The topics cover fleet-derived specifications, ADS installation and maintenance, ADS inspection procedures, driver-monitor alertness management, insuring ADS-equipped trucks, identification of ADS safety metrics/variables, ADS road assessment, and data security/transfer protocol and cybersecurity best practices.
The fleet specification guideline was developed recognizing that the adoption of ADS technology by fleets is more likely to be a gradual process rather than a one-time, full-scale adoption. The research team took an industry-first approach and conducted discussions with truck industry partners regarding the use cases that have the most appeal to truck fleets. The goal of this guideline was to identify the most desirable set of use case specifications for fleet users to support the development of the fleet ADS. This was to ensure that truck fleets specified their needs as a function of their real-world operational experiences and that guidelines provided on integrating ADS would meet those needs. Based on the discussions held by VTTI with fleets, three use cases were identified and research was conducted to understand stakeholder expectations of ADS technology in these use cases. Further, various systems such as safety equipment, electrical components, batteries, sensors, controls, and displays on conventional trucks that may require special consideration towards the integration of ADS technology for these use cases were outlined and practices on how these are handled were provided.
This report may be useful to Class 8 truck fleets who are seeking to specify equipment and automation systems to meet their operation needs and for manufacturers or developers of heavy ADS Class 8 vehicle systems to identify development and integration needs for ADS fleet operations.
One of the goals of the CONOPS project is to prove the viability of an ADS in mixed fleets composed of trucks from a variety of makes and models equipped with a range of driving automation systems that assist drivers or carry full responsibility for sustained control and monitoring. This would require following efficient installation and maintenance practices for ADS equipment on these fleets. The research team developed this guide for the installation and maintenance of ADS equipment for fleets. The ADS used during the project varied based on the operational use case for deployment. These systems are examples demonstrating how ADS technologies and their assembly with the vehicle can vary based on the operational design domain (ODD) and automation functions required for operation. The chapter provides two separate installation guides and related maintenance practices for each system demonstrated in the CONOPS project. The first system was developed to support operations on public highways (as demonstrated with the port queuing cross-country deployments in the project). The second system was developed to support operations in limited geofence private yards or ports (as demonstrated with Fleet Integration in the project). It should be noted that this section is a product-focused overview of the installation process of an ADS developer, Pronto, on CMVs.
The information provided in this chapter may inform fleets on potential approaches to integrating ADS technology into their existing fleet for specific trucking operations and also provide original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with insights on how to make provisions for ADS equipment installation during the manufacturing process. Interested ADS developers can also leverage this information to improve the software and hardware requirements for their proprietary ADS technology and possibly develop more innovative approaches to make the technology more easily adaptable to various domains, possibly streamlining the installation and maintenance process. The information may also provide law enforcement agencies with what to expect during vehicle inspection in the case of ADS-equipped CMVs. Policy- and decision-makers can also use the contents of this chapter as a primer for standardizing the installation and maintenance practices for ADS-equipped CMVs.
The development of vehicle automation and ADS show potential for significant safety improvements in CMV operations. However, there will be a need to inspect the vehicle and its systems that operate without a driver onboard to ensure proper performance and safety. This creates a challenge for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the CVSA to create policy and inspection procedures to ensure the safety of both CMVs and the motoring public. VTTI reviewed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and the existing research literature to better understand the current state of practice regarding truck inspections and the implications of driverless vehicles. In conducting the literature review, the study team searched various terms related to truck inspections—roadside, pre-trip, Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR), periodic, and the link between mechanical failures and truck crashes. Additionally, the VTTI study team interviewed nine experts involved in motor carrier enforcement, motor carrier safety, and ADS technology development to better understand the challenges that ADS-equipped vehicles pose to existing truck inspection processes, to identify the changes needed in the FMCSRs, and to identify alternative truck inspection procedures. The section also provides insights into the enhanced CMV Inspection Program by CVSA specifically for ADS-equipped trucks. Lastly, recommendations, next steps, and future areas to consider are highlighted.
This report may be useful to fleets and drivers, policy- and decision-makers, ADS developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and law enforcement as they seek to understand the opportunities and challenges inspecting and ensuring a high level of equipment maintenance and repair for ADS-equipped trucks.
This section explores the integration of Driver State Monitoring (DSM) technologies with Automated Driving Systems (ADSs) in commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). The research identifies key challenges and opportunities in leveraging DSM to enhance safety operator vigilance and readiness during ADS operation. Through a three-phase approach, including a literature review, industry interviews, a technology scan, and on-road testing, the study highlights the complexities associated with DSM-ADS integration. Findings underscore the need to improve the accuracy and reliability of DSM systems to mitigate false alarms and inaccuracies that may compromise ADS decision-making. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of designing DSM technologies as supportive tools for safety operators rather than strict supervisors. Future research directions include enhancing DSM system performance across varied driving conditions, exploring their impact on safety operator behavior, and investigating their role in informing ADS decision-making processes. By addressing these challenges and pursuing outlined research avenues, stakeholders can advance the understanding and implementation of DSM technology in the context of automated driving, fostering safer transportation systems.
This report may be useful to fleets, ADS developers, monitoring technology developers, policy- and decision-makers, and safety operators in recognizing the need for implementation and the current capabilities of DSM technologies.
Guidelines on Insuring ADS-Equipped Trucks are provided in this report. The report focuses on insurance practices involving AVs in general, with specific consideration for heavy vehicles. This guideline seeks to answer questions on what the current and future AV trends are, how auto insurance will meet society’s needs in an AV world, and what the critical insurance-related components for AV regulation are. A comprehensive review of publicly available information on insurance policies for AVs was conducted. The materials reviewed were based on resources from the Travelers Institute, an education and public policy division of The Travelers Indemnity Company, a home, vehicle, valuables, and business insurance provider. Most of the information herein was released in a position paper published by Travelers in January 2021 titled, “Insuring Autonomy: How Auto Insurance Will Lead Through Changing Risks.” We examined the discussions in the paper and modified the findings and conclusions to focus on trucking fleets. We also provided insights based on a technical session hosted by the S.18 Automated Vehicles Study Group at the TMC annual meeting on February 28, 2023. It should be noted that the information and positions stated in this section are shared to inform the developing conversation about insuring AVs. The information is based on the publicly available resources mentioned and is not necessarily representative of positions held by the research team, partners, or the sponsor.
This report may be useful to fleets and manufacturers or developers of vehicles and automation systems that will be used in Class 8 truck freight operations. This guideline can help them consider the many legacy elements of today’s approach to insurance that still apply to heavy truck ADS operations and some novel challenges that may arise.
Traditional safety metrics, including crashes and moving violations, may be insufficient for monitoring ADS-equipped trucks' performance or convincing the public of their safety. This effort describes potential variables and collection strategies for fleet decision-makers and the public to evaluate ADS safety toward the development of guidelines for ADS-equipped truck safety metrics. This effort also describes necessary data to assess and monitor ADS safety before and after deployment. Our findings categorize safety metrics into lagging and leading metrics. Lagging metrics, such as incidents per vehicle count and incidents per million miles, measure system safety after deployment but are poor for incident prevention. Leading metrics, like near-crash events and disengagements, are proactive indicators of future safety performance. We identified the application of both metrics to inform policymaking.
This report may be useful to fleets and ADS developers that support and operate ADS-equipped trucks to develop safety management plans prior to deployment. It may also be useful to public agencies and standards development groups that seek to identify and benchmark heavy vehicle safety performance criteria for human and ADS operations.
The chapter describes a concept of a road readiness assessment system for trucks equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS), developed using datasets from cross-country deployments. This system distinguishes between roadways that are suitable for ADS-equipped trucks and those that may require human oversight or novel mitigations for operational stability. It integrates data on roadway infrastructure with the vehicle’s assessment of road conditions through its kinematics. Considering the variations in ADS technology among different developers, a more advanced road readiness system was also developed. The assessment system is designed to be adaptable, enabling future integration with specific proprietary algorithms from ADS developers. The report illustrates how these systems have been applied to U.S. interstate highways, using data from Pronto, an ADS developer.
Government agencies can employ this system to assess their state roadway systems, which is a critical preliminary step towards implementing ADS. Moreover, the report offers recommendations and outlines next steps for stakeholders to ready U.S. roadways for ADS trucking operations.
This section provides an overview of cybersecurity best practices and data transfer protocols for the developer's ADS. While it touches on some cybersecurity measures used internally by the developer for ADS development and service operations, the primary focus is on topics directly relevant to end users adopting ADS technologies. Specifically, this document addresses cybersecurity from the perspective of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) fleet equipped with ADS, rather than from an ADS developer's standpoint.
The scope of this section includes general guidelines for understanding cybersecurity, the relationship between mixed fleets (both conventional and automated trucks) and cybersecurity, and how fleets can tailor these guidelines to their specific systems. The intended audience is those operating mixed fleets for commercial purposes.
