TOKYO — Japan is set to initiate the construction of an automated cargo transport corridor linking Tokyo and Osaka, referred to by officials as a “conveyor belt road.” This innovative project aims to address the growing shortfall of truck drivers in the country.
While the specific funding has not yet been established, the initiative is recognized as a crucial response to the increasing demand for delivery services. A government-produced video utilizing computer graphics illustrates how large, wheeled containers will move along a dedicated three-lane corridor positioned in the center of a major highway. Test runs of this trial system are slated to start in 2027 or early 2028, with the objective of achieving full operation by the mid-2030s.
Yuri Endo, a senior deputy director at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, emphasized the need for innovative approaches to road systems. She noted that this development aims to alleviate issues related to a declining labor force and the necessity of reducing the workload placed on truck drivers. Additionally, the automated system is designed to contribute to a decrease in carbon emissions.
“The concept behind the auto flow road is to establish designated areas within the transportation network specifically for logistics, employing a 24-hour automated and unmanned delivery system,” Endo clarified.
Though such a system may be perceived as applicable only to densely populated and low-crime environments like Japan, similar concepts are also under consideration in Switzerland and Great Britain. Switzerland’s project involves the creation of an underground transport pathway, while London’s plans include a fully automated system powered by inexpensive linear motors.
In Japan, the loading of these containers will be automated and facilitated by forklifts, closely coordinating with airports, railways, and ports. The containers are sizeable, measuring 180 centimeters in height (almost six feet) and 110 centimeters wide and long (approximately the size of a large closet).
The initiative, primarily focused on business deliveries, has the potential for expansion to additional routes if the initial tests prove successful. Although human drivers will likely still handle final deliveries to residences, there may be scope for future implementation of driverless technology in this area.
Japan is facing a worsening shortage of truck drivers exacerbated by recent legislation limiting overtime hours for drivers. These measures are designed to prevent overwork and accidents while making the profession more sustainable. This issue has come to be known as the “2024 problem” in the logistics and transportation sectors.
Current projections estimate that Japan’s total transport capacity could decrease by 34 percent by 2030. Presently, the nation’s transport capacity is approximately 4.3 billion metric tons, with an overwhelming majority—over 91 percent—transported by trucks, according to the Japan Trucking Association.
In contrast, the United States moves about 5.2 trillion ton-miles of freight annually, a figure projected to exceed 8 trillion ton-miles by 2050. A ton-mile represents the movement of one ton of freight over a distance of one mile, and it is a standard measure in the industry.
The demand for delivery services surged dramatically during the pandemic, with the percentage of Japanese households utilizing online shopping increasing from about 40 percent to above 60 percent, as per government statistics, despite an overall declining population.
Truck driving is a challenging profession, requiring long hours and days on the road, which many job seekers find unappealing. In recent years, the annual number of fatalities involving delivery trucks has remained around 1,000 deaths, a significant improvement from nearly 2,000 deaths recorded in 2010. Despite this progress, the Trucking Association, representing approximately 400 truck-related businesses and organizations, advocates for making deliveries even safer.
Additionally, the association encourages consumers to consider reducing the frequency of their delivery orders or to combine orders to minimize impact. Some industry experts are also suggesting that businesses should reconsider their free delivery policies.
Trucks account for roughly 90 percent of Japan’s cargo transport, and about 60 percent of the country’s fresh produce, such as fruits and vegetables, is transported from distant locations, as highlighted by Yuji Yano, a professor at Ryutsu Keizai University. Yano notes that the ongoing challenges in trucking underscore that the “2024 problem” is not merely a transportation issue but rather a broader societal concern.