INDOT, ODOT begin automated truck initiative on I-70

INDIANAPOLIS — Drivers traveling between Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio, on I-70 could share the road with tractor-trailers with automated technology.

According to a news release from the Indiana Department of Transportation, a pair of tractor-trailers with automated truck platooning technology started traveling on I-70 between the two cities on Monday. The trucks are delivering shipments for EASE Logistics.

Officials said that this is a collaboration between the Ohio Department of Transportation’s DriveOhio initiative and the Indiana Department of Transportation to help advance the adoption of truck automation technologies in the Midwest.

“Harnessing truck automation technology is one of many innovative safety efforts underway at INDOT,” INDOT Commissioner Lyndsday Quist said in the release. “In partnership with Ohio, our goal is to create a safer, lower-stress environment for all drivers.”

The release said that the EASE Logistics trucks are equipped with technology that links the two vehicles. It allows the lead vehicle to control the speed and direction of the second truck, which follows the lead truck.

During the trips, the release said that the follower truck will automatically steer, accelerate and brake, which officials said supports “safe, efficient operation and consistent vehicle coordination.” People will be in the driver’s seat of both trucks, who are able to turn off the technology and take over as needed.

The release said that the trucks are also equipped with cameras and sensors for object detection. This enables the following vehicle to automatically adjust its speed, or stop if a vehicle or object moves between the trucks. The trucks will have a purple light that lets law enforcement know they are digitally connected.

“Everything we do at ODOT is driven by safety. We’re committed to reducing deaths on our roadways and vehicle automation technologies can be part of the solution,” ODOT Director Pam Boratyn said in the release. “Many vehicles on the road today have some degree of automated driving systems including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and automatic braking. All of these features are designed to improve safety and reduce driver stress.”

This project was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the release said. The $8.8 million project “aims to deploy varying levels of automation and integrate these technologies into truck fleets’ daily freight-hauling operations.”