Truck platooning has the potential to lower variable costs for road haulage companies through reduced labor and fuel costs. Simulations showed savings of up to 5% for large companies with over 200 weekly truck missions through natural overlap in routing and minimal impact on route choice planning. Smaller companies could achieve savings up to 2% through flexible time windows and cooperation, but with a significant impact on route planning. Third party platooning providers represent an opportunity. Successful implementation will require stakeholder cooperation, pilot projects with large companies, and leveraging synergies to benefit smaller companies.

1. • What impact has truck platooning on the variable
cost per vehicle kilometer of road haulage companies?
• What is the potential of truck platooning?
• What is the effect on route choice and planning?
-5% -11% -15%
Lower labor and fuel costs drive variable
cost savings for road haulage companies
-8%
-10%
-25%
-10%
-32%
-15%
Route choice heuristic
Optimal planning synchronization
A ‘Best Pair’ heuristic maximizes savings on
road network
Artificial network
Artificial data
Real network
Artifical data
Real network
Real data
Fastest achievable savings scenario (< 5 years)
Results below according to this scenario
Road haulage companies with more than 200 weekly
truck missions could realise up to 5% savings by
implementing platooning, driven by the natural overlap in
the routing and planning of their truck missions. The
impact on the companies’ route choice and planning is
negligible.
Savings up to 2% can be realized in small companies by
platooning. The achievable savings are facilitated by
flexible time windows and cooperation with other
companies. The impact on the companies’ route choice
and planning is big.
Truck platooning comprises an interesting opportunity for
3rd party platooning providers.
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2
1
Simulations show significant savings for big
as well as small road haulage companies
1 2 3
The potential of truck
platooning
3 scenarios with specific labor and fuel savings
Integrated optimization algorithm
3 key simulations performed
For each pair:
Thomas Vyncke, Prof. Dirk Cattrysse, 2016 KU Leuven ©
Three important steps towards a successful
implementation
Gather key stakeholders around the table
(companies, interest groups, policy makers)
Generate momentum by organizing pilot
projects in big road haulage companies
Leverage synergies between truck missions
to deliver savings to smaller companies
Master of science in engineering: traffic, logistics and intelligent transportation systems