Platooning Challenge culminates Wednesday

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Updated Apr 6, 2016
Shaping Future Transportation – Campus ConnectivityShaping Future Transportation – Campus Connectivity

The European Truck Platooning Challenge, an initiative organized by the Netherlands as part of its six-month EU Presidency, kicks off April 6 in Rotterdam.

DAF, Iveco, MAN Truck & Bus, Daimler, Scania and Volvo – six European truck manufacturers in all – are traveling via platoon to the event at APM Terminals, Maasvlakte II, Rotterdam, linking of two or three trucks in each company’s convoy. As a platoon, the trucks closely follow each other at a predetermined close distance by using connectivity technology and automated driving support systems.

A live stream of the event will be available below early Wednesday morning in the U.S.


The truck at the head of the platoon acts as the leader, with the vehicles behind reacting and adapting to changes in its movement.

The overall objective of the European Truck Platooning Challenge is to accelerate the introduction of truck platoons by putting the subject high on the agenda of EU policy makers. The main event in Rotterdam on April 6 will demonstrate the advantages of truck platooning with an aim to foster European cooperation between truck manufacturers, member states, logistics service providers, road operators, road and vehicle approval authorities, research institutes and governments.

Jason Cannon has written about trucking and transportation for more than a decade and serves as Chief Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. A Class A CDL holder, Jason is a graduate of the Porsche Sport Driving School, an honorary Duckmaster at The Peabody in Memphis, Tennessee, and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Reach him at [email protected].Â