Self-driving trucks: a way to transform the European freight sector

EU-funded researchers are accelerating the launch of self-driving trucks on public roads to address driver shortages and improve safety and sustainability of European logistics sectors.

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In the not-so-distant future, the unusually-looking vans – with large black windshields and drivers without humans behind the wheels – could become a common sight on European roads.

These are automated long-distance trucks and are the major players in the future of the European freight sector. EU-funded researchers are working to make their rollout as smooth as possible.

Self-driving cars are no longer novel. In recent years, small autonomous buses, autonomous lines or monorails, and even driverless passenger cars around airports have become increasingly common.

However, autonomous trucks are still in the testing phase. They are big and heavy and require quick action to deliver goods on public roads, so researchers are carefully measuring their progress.

One of the people testing the new truck is Dr. Ragnhild Wahl, head of research and innovation at Norwegian. She is coordinating an EU-funded research program called Modi, which aims to improve the logistics sector in Europe by adding automation.

“This project is to provide stepping stones for the full deployment of autonomous vehicles,” she explained. The main purpose is to create and test a system that will enable us to transport cargo in Europe.

Ensure safe launch

The ultimate goal of modernizing the freight sector is to achieve what is called “level 4” automation, in which vehicles travel within a predefined geographical area without human labor.

These trucks will be able to drive continuously without interruption, extending driving for hours and increasing logistics efficiency. They will use sensors, radar, cameras and advanced AI algorithms for decision-making and control.

There will also be a command center for remote operators, who supervise operations around the clock. But to have automatic trucks on the road, researchers need to make sure there are no surprises.

“We are working to identify and reduce barriers to automation,” Val said. Her international research team is developing so-called cooperative, connected and automated mobility (CCAM) solutions in real-world logistics operations.

The EU is a global leader in CCAM research and uses it as the best way to modernize the transportation sector, with Modi as one of its flagship programs.

In addition to green and digital transportation, automation can also help address the growing shortage of truck drivers.

Recent data show that more and more truck driver vacancies are still unfiltered throughout Europe. The International Road Transport Union predicts that by 2028, Europe may be 745,000 truck drivers, accounting for 17% of the total labor required.

“There are severe driver shortages and it will only get worse in the next few years,” said Pia Wijk, project manager at Swedish freight technology company Einride.

Wijk also serves as part of the Modi research team, which brings together experts from 36 public and private organizations such as Volvo Technology AB and DAF trucks, headquartered in seven EU countries, and Norway.

Greener and more efficient delivery of goods

The center of their efforts is self-driving trucks.

The front of these stylish, white, futuristic vehicles have dark windshields and come with cameras and sensors for extra security.

Einride’s autonomous technology is based on AI and precision sensors that analyze over 5 million data points per second, allowing their driverless vehicles to browse complex routes, accurately detect objects and predict braking distances.

Wijk said self-driving cars could help reduce road deaths. This is partly attributed to the reduced range of accident avoidance characteristics and human error.

In the latest research published in nature, scientists analyzing thousands of accident reports involving self-driving cars and accident reports with human drivers suggest that in most cases, self-driving cars are actually safer than humans.

“We believe autonomous technology has the potential to make transportation safer than ever,” Wijk said.

According to the European Commission, in 2024, about 19,800 people were killed in road accidents in the EU.

This is down 3% from the previous year in the EU’s ongoing efforts to improve road safety. The goal is to cut the number of road deaths by 2030 and ultimately cause zero deaths by 2050, an ambition known as Zero Vision.

Testing in complex real-life environments

The Modi research team is currently exploring how to incorporate automatic transport into the logistics sector, focusing on key transport corridors throughout Europe. By doing so, they are identifying a range of challenges that must be addressed.

It is crucial to ensure that any essential tasks involving any cargo journey are effectively performed in an automated transport environment, such as transit, documentation, refueling or loading or unloading.

By the end of the project in March 2026, the team will conduct a detailed impact assessment, compile their findings, and develop business models to inform companies and decision makers.

Modi’s main focus is a 100-km road corridor from Rotterdam, Netherlands to Oslo, Norway. Researchers are evaluating their infrastructure ready for autonomous driving.

The route spans four national borders and, since Norway does not belong to the EU, it also involves browsing customs and tolls between EU and non-EU territories.

Modi researchers also tested technical solutions by testing four specific use cases along the corridor along the port area, each representing a different stage of the logistics supply chain.

In Rotterdam, they are studying the effectiveness of self-driving cars operating in busy port environments. In Hamburg (Germany), the transition between highways and urban roads is a core element.

In Gothenburg (Sweden), the focus is on hub challenges such as automatic charging, loading and unloading. When crossing the border to Norway, the test will be charged automatically.

In Moss (Norway), they are testing communications between vehicles and infrastructure while driving on public roads.

The future of driverless

Einride has already used its self-driving cars in commercial operations in Europe, and since December 2024, one of Sweden’s largest pharmacy e-retailers has moved goods between warehouses. Their trucks used public routes and were licensed by Swedish transport companies.

In the short term, Wahl expects the easiest deployment to be deployed over short distances, such as terminals and ports in controlled and closed environments.

However, when it comes to heavy long-distance trucks, progress can be slow. “For long-distance transportation, automatic trucks will need to travel at high speeds of hundreds of kilometers, so their promotion must be planned carefully,” Val said.

Public roads are strictly regulated and are more complex and essential to the community, which has brought technical and social challenges to self-driving cars. Still, early signs are encouraging.

“When we started using autonomous vehicles in the 1990s, everyone was skeptical of them,” Val said. “The social acceptance of autonomous minibuses is increasing today, just as we use robots and small units to move slowly in controlled environments like airports.”

Larger trucks will require more time and effort to win support and drive regulatory barriers. Nevertheless, thanks to EU-backed initiatives, such as Modi, the driverless future is getting closer.

The research in this article is funded by the EU’s Horizon Program. The views of respondents do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.

More information

This article was originally published in the European Journal of Research and Innovation.

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