PASSWORDS: INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

By Elena Vaciago, Associate Research Manager THE INNOVATION GROUP

New technologies will change the world of freight transport in the name of innovation and environmental sensitivity. In recent years, industrial vehicles manufacturers have been focusing on technological development, in response to increasingly stringent regulations on the front of reducing CO2 emissions and safety increase. The use of Telematics in freight transport is nothing new; in the last ten years, trucks have already been equipped with new technologies, thus allowing Logistics and Rental companies to download, store and analyze vehicle data such as position, speed, driving style parameters, on-board information, weight or route. Data is essential for a well-rounded perspective of vehicles’ safety and efficiency. Backward and therefore non-native telematics fleets can take advantage from TSPs – providers of services and technologies for telematics applied to transport. Connected and smart vehicles can “talk” to each other and exchange data with third parties (such as insurance, mechanical assistance, health care in the event of an accident, law enforcement in the event of theft, trucking companies, but also publicmobility agencies). Data collection results in better decision making in several ways; Municipalities and Region could – for instance – receive real-time information on traffic flows and optimize planning operations, as well as evaluating and improving environmental policies. Smart and connected fleets could also be crucial for efficient and transparent transport management. Take, for instance, Supply Chain monitoring, or exploiting the Internet of Things (sensors integrated in public transport vehicles), or Transport Management System apps to connect all users, or eProcurement platforms, capable of speeding up logistical processes between supply and demand.