Over 90 per cent of Japanese cargo is transported by road, and with the Asian nation’s trucking industry facing a dramatic shortfall in driver availability in the coming years plans are being made to overcome the traditional shortcomings of the industry with the construction of a giant conveyer belt.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has unveiled plans to build an automated conveyer belt highway that spans over 310 miles (499 kilometres) through the middle of the country as an alternative to traditional road freight.
Known as the Autoflow-Road proposal, the conveyer belt would consist of both overground and underground sections and move freight between Tokyo and Osaka 24 hours a day.
According to modelling, it could replace the daily workload of 25,000 drivers.
“[The proposal] will not only address the logistics crisis, but also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito says.
Japan has recently capped overtime hours for truck drivers across the country in an aim to address overworking, however the move has been met with criticism in some fields as it will place further stress on an already stretched logistics industry.
The current driver shortfall situation could lead to significant economic repercussions in the nation, with a $70 billion loss projected by 2030.
The government is also encouraging improvements to efficiency and wage growth within the transport industry, however a lack of standardised practices in the industry have proven to be a significant roadblock for reform.
The project is estimated to cost upwards of $500 million ($80 billion yen) should it come to fruition, but is currently only in the early stages of consideration.
No timeline has been released for possible construction.
Read more ATN:
Treading new ground – inside Shippit’s NZ expansion
NatRoad calls for action on critical truckie shortages
VGA appoints new Mack Truck Australia executive