trans.info — 2025-08-21
Land transportation
Driverless truck trials are under way on Europe’s busiest freight corridor, as an EU-backed project tests whether roads, maps and cross-border systems are ready for the next stage of automated freight.
A European Union co-funded project is examining how Level 4 (L4) automated trucks could be deployed in freight transport, with trials taking place along the TEN-T corridor.
The MODI Project brings together DAF Trucks, HERE Technologies and research partners to test vehicles and define the infrastructure requirements that would support them; from road markings and connectivity to digital maps and traffic data.
One of the biggest challenges under study is localisation, which allows vehicles to determine their position within centimetres.
“Localization can’t succeed if the infrastructure isn’t ready,” said Guus Arts, Project Manager Advanced Technology at DAF Trucks.
High-definition mapping is central to the project. HERE Technologies is supplying its High Definition Live Map, which provides predictive traffic and road data to complement onboard sensors. Arts described the maps as “an external sensor” offering forward-looking data essential for safe operation in complex transport networks.
The initiative also aims to produce a feature roadmap that could bring incremental digital benefits to fleets before full automation is ready.
“Digitisation doesn’t have to be all or nothing,” said Petter Arnesen, Senior Researcher on MODI. “By introducing features in stages, we can start unlocking value today, while preparing for tomorrow’s autonomous freight systems.”