The document discusses truck platooning, a technology that can provide fuel savings of 5-20% by using automated systems to maintain tight vehicle formations, thus reducing aerodynamic drag. Funded by the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute is conducting a project to demonstrate the feasibility of truck platooning in Texas, aiming to enhance safety, fuel efficiency, and highway throughput. The project has three phases, with the first being completed successfully, leading to ongoing development and future deployment plans for commercial operations.

1. Saving Lives, Time and Resources tti.tamu.edu
Why Truck Platooning?
Besides driver compensation, the largest oper-
ating expense for a line-haul truck is fuel. At
65 miles per hour, each truck expends about
65percentofitsfuelconsumptiontoovercome
aerodynamicdrag.Currently,manylarge-and
small-fleetoperatorsusevarioustechniquesand
technologies to gain 1 to 2 percent fuel effi-
ciency.Researchsuggeststhattruckplatooning
can provide 5–20 percent fuel savings, as well
asofferotherbenefits(e.g.,emissionreductions,
additionalvehiclesafetyfeaturesandincreased
highway throughput).
COMMERCIAL TRUCK PLATOONING: LEVEL 2 AUTOMATION (PHASE 1)
Project Partnerships and Focus
The research team represents a public-private
partnership (PPP) of government agencies,
national labs, truck manufacturers and equip-
ment suppliers, many of which have com-
mitted in-kind resources such as equipment,
engineeringservices,intellectualpropertyand
funding. The project focuses on the feasibility
ofdeployingtwo-vehicletruckplatoonsutiliz-
ing Level 2 automation on specific corridors
in Texas within 5 to 10 years.
What is Truck Platooning?
Level 2 truck platooning extends
radar and vehicle-to-vehicle,
communications-based, cooperative-
adaptive cruise control using precise
automated lateral and longitudinal
vehicle control to maintain a tight
formation of vehicles with short
following distances. A manually
driven truck leads a platoon, allowing
the driver(s) of the following truck(s)
to disengage from driving tasks
and monitor system performance.
Level 1 truck platooning has
demonstrated the potential for
significant fuel savings, enhanced
mobility and associated emissions
reductions from platooning vehicles.
Level 2 automation may increase
these benefits while reducing driver
workload and increasing safety.
TheTexasDepartmentofTransportation(TxDOT)isfundingacomprehensivetruck
platooning demonstration in Texas. This project represents a proactive effort in
assessing innovative operational strategies for the Texas freight network.
TRUCK PLATOONING BENEFITS
SAFETY.
By reducing the
number of drivers
making decisions,
the incidence of driver error
decreases, thus increasing
roadway safety for others.
ECONOMICAL.
Projected fuel
savings of around
12 percent can drive
transportation costs down, and
that results in reduced prices at
the grocery store.
ENVIRONMENTAL.
Withreduceddrag
onbothtrucks,fuel
efficiencyincreases,
bringingdowncarbonmonoxide
andotherpollutants.
MOBILITY.
At30-50percentmarket
penetrationrateand
withalltrucksforming
two-truckplatoons,throughput
increasesby6-8percentinnearly
congestedconditions.

2. Project Overview
With funding from TxDOT’s innovative
research program and PPPs, the Texas A&M
TransportationInstitute(TTI)createdafirst-
of-its-kind comprehensive freight platooning
demonstration in Texas. Building upon
other platooning research, the TTI team will
strive to demonstrate the potential safety and
mobility benefits, fuel savings, and emission
reductionspossiblebyextendingvehicleauto-
mation to freight truck platoons. The project
is planned in three phases:
• Phase1(completed):Conductafeasibil-
ity planning study and proof-of-concept
demonstration.
• Phase2(ongoing):Developtheconcept
of operations and requirements for the
design and vehicle system; enhance
system functionality and reliability; and
developthePhase3implementationplan
and deployment guidance.
• Phase3(planned):Deployacommercial
truck-platooning application in Texas.
Project Outcome
In Phase 1, the TTI team documented les-
sons learned from past platooning projects;
identified potential regulatory or legislative
roadblocks to introducing platooning into
commercial fleet operations; and explored
potential implementation scenarios given
the existing infrastructure and operational
environment.OnJuly22,2016,theTTIteam
successfullydemonstratedaproof-of-concept
of the platooning technology.
BegunNovember1,2016,Phase2willtransi-
tion the proof-of-concept to a plan for safely,
reliablydeployingplatooningonacommercial
operator’s fleet in Phase 3. To demonstrate
real-world viability, the TTI-led team will
test the system in one or more field pilot dem-
onstrations and/or in controlled, open-road
scenarios. Researchers will assess the impact
of platooning on TxDOT’s infrastructure
and operations by researching critical issues
likegeometricand trafficoperationsimpacts,
whileprovidingnecessaryoutreachandtrain-
ingrelatedtotruckplatooning.Besidesdraft-
To solve transportation
problems through research,
to transfer technology and to
develop diverse human resources
to meet the transportation
challenges of tomorrow.
TTI’s Mission
TTI1761.0417
Michael Lukuc
Principal Investigator
Program Manager, Connected
and Automated Transportation
System Reliability Division
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
College Station, TX 77843-3135
(979) 845-5239
m-lukuc@tti.tamu.edu
http://tti.tamu.edu
Beverly Kuhn, Ph.D., P.E.
Co-Principal Investigator
Division Head, System Reliability Division
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
College Station, TX 77843-3135
(979) 862-3558
b-kuhn@tti.tamu.edu
http://tti.tamu.edu
Contacts
The Texas A&M Transportation
Institute, established in 1950, seeks
solutions to the problems and chal-
lenges facing all modes of transpor-
tation — surface, air, pipeline, water
and rail. The Institute works with
nearly 200 sponsors in the United
States and abroad at all levels of
government and in the private sector
and is recognized as one of the finest
higher-education-affiliated transpor-
tation research agencies in the nation.
TTI has saved the state and nation
billions of dollars through strategies
and products developed through its
research program. TTI research has
a proven impact — resulting in lives,
time and resources saved.
About TTI
ing a Phase 3 deployment plan, the team will
also develop near-term guidance for TxDOT
and other stakeholders to prepare Texas for
deploying truck platooning on key facilities
across the TxDOT freight network.