The Japanese government recently announced plans to launch a network of hi-tech, automated conveyor belts, namely the Autoflow-Road, to transport goods over an estimated 310 miles (500 kilometers) between Tokyo and Osaka.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s new project aims to address a looming logistics crisis caused by a severe delivery driver shortage and increasing freight demands, as per media reports.
By building a network of automated conveyor belts to transport goods, the government hopes to ensure efficient and continuous cargo movement.
Aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
“Automated logistics roads are designed to get the most out of road space by utilizing hard shoulders, median strips [central reservations], and tunnels beneath the roadway,” stated Shuya Muramatsu, a senior official in the ministry’s road economics research office.
Furthermore, the project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and optimize the use of existing road space, leveraging tunnels, median strips, and hard shoulders.
The Autoflow-Road system currently under planning phase will comprise of automated conveyor belts installed in tunnels beneath major highways, on above-ground tracks in the middle of roads, and along hard shoulders of motorways.
“Our study is examining the impact on road traffic, including on surrounding roads, and costs,” added Muramatsu.
As per SCMP, it will employ high-capacity pallet systems to transport up to one tonne of cargo per pallet, operating continuously to enhance freight movement efficiency.
The hi-tech conveyor belts show promise to enhance operational efficiency while aiming to also mitigate the driver shortfall.
The government’s project is also striving to reduce GHGs as well as other pollutants by replacing traditional truck-based freight transportation with automated conveyor belts.
This would help lower carbon dioxide and particulate matter emissions. This shift not only contributes to Japan’s environmental goals but also helps improve air quality and reduce the overall environmental footprint of the logistics industry.
Autoflow-Road to replace 25,000 drivers per day
Autoflow-Road is envisioned to function 24 hours a day, with pallets holding up to one tonne of cargo, potentially replacing the work of 25,000 drivers per day.
Currently, the country is also facing a delivery driver shortage owing to its rapidly aging population which could soon lead to a logistics crisis in the country. Thus, implementing the system would help improve the efficiency of transportation.
Nomura Research Institute conducted a study estimating that conventional freight transportation would drop to 1.4 billion tonnes in 2030 from 1.43 billion tonnes in 2020.
However, the delivery driver shortage is expected to deteriorate even more. Estimations indicate that the value will dive from 660,000 in 2020 to 480,000 by 2030, a deficit of 36 percent.
Rural regions are expected to bear the brunt of it. The study found that northeastern Tohoku and southern Shikoku could be facing a 41 percent driver shortfall.
As per SCMP, the transportation industry will be unable to meet freight demands within six years.
Tetsuo Saito, transport minister at the unveiling on Sunday said the Autoflow-Road “will not only address the logistics crisis but also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We would like to speedily proceed with discussions on the matter”.
