Overview

Freight and the efficient movement of freight is a critical component to the economy of the southern U.S. One connected and automated vehicle (CAV) application of particular interest to the freight industry is truck platooning. Truck platooning describes a number of trucks equipped with CAV technology that closely follow one another in a "platoon". Benefits of truck platooning include energy savings from aerodynamic drag reduction, reduced highway congestion due to short following distances, and safety improvements from faster reaction times and automated support systems. However, the short following distances maintained between vehicles and more precise lane-keeping lead to a higher concentration of load being placed on the transportation infrastructure. It is unclear how these greater weight concentrations and new load configurations will impact the deterioration/damage to pavements. Addressing this uncertainty is critical, especially considering the current state of sever financial constraints in which not all state-owned infrastructure can be maintained.