Integrating Transformative Technologies in Indiana’s Transportation Operations

New and emerging transportation technologies, driven by automation, connectivity, and electrification, could potentially help address the transportation sector’s persistent and pervasive problems, including those associated with safety, mobility, and energy use. For this reason, the state of Indiana, uniquely positioned to serve interstate truck traffic, sought ways to identify and incorporate these new technologies on Indiana’s highways. This report addressed the challenges and opportunities regarding the integration of transformative technologies in Indiana’s truck operations, with a particular focus on truck platooning. This report started with a review of current literature about disruptive technologies in general and truck platooning specifically. This included published information on the impacts of platooning on transportation outcomes—energy use, mobility, safety, truck operators’ comfort, infrastructure condition/longevity, emissions, and other impacts. Regarding these impacts, this report presents existing simulation models for analyzing/evaluating truck platooning. Driver comfort, in terms of the platoon inter-truck headways, was investigated using a driving simulation study in the Center for Connected and Automated Center (CCAT) human factors laboratory at Purdue. This report also identified and discussed opportunities and challenges to truck platooning, and a process was developed to identify truck-platooning sections and a multi-criteria framework for ex poste or ex ante evaluation of platooning segments. Finally, the report discusses the future trends of freight transportation in Indiana (including challenges and opportunities) in truck platooning policy and development.