DSV, dm and Iveco Test Autonomous Driving

The global logistics company DSV has recently successfully completed its test of a groundbreaking technology. A multi-month project to test semi-autonomous trucks was concluded with a test under real conditions. The project results showed the key benefits of autonomous truck technology – improved safety, efficiency and fuel savings.

(Bremen) DSV recently completed the testing of a semi-autonomous driver assistance solution in Krefeld. Together with its long-standing partner dm-drogerie markt and the companies IVECO and Plus, it was the first road test of this technology in Germany. After extensive, multi-month testing and validation of the technology as well as driver training, the heavy-duty truck from IVECO equipped with the AI-based solution for highly automated, partially autonomous driving from Plus was ready for a public road test.

On the route between two warehouses in Krefeld and Hennef, goods were delivered under real conditions. “The focus is on depot-to-depot operations, as the technology is perfect for recurring processes where sufficient data is available,” explains Peter Matthiesen, Senior Director, Group Innovation, Mobility & Truck Technology at DSV. “With DSV, dm-drogerie markt has been working together for decades on sustainable and innovative supply chains. Therefore, we were very happy to support this pilot project. We also look forward to working together on pioneering technology like this in the future,” adds Ursula Paepcke, Head of Transportation Management in the logistics department of the drugstore retailer dm-drogerie markt, about the reasons for participating in the project.

The pilot project was able to confirm the expected insights and assumptions, especially regarding improved safety and reliability. The autonomous driving system consistently demonstrated safe driving behavior, particularly in lane keeping, lane changes, adaptive driving, and handling predictable traffic situations. “It is incredibly valuable for the project participants to understand and see through practical experience how highly automated trucks, developed jointly by IVECO and Plus, can improve safety, efficiency, and fuel consumption. We look forward to the commercial availability of these highly innovative vehicles,” says Matthiesen. One reason for the test: “We want to give drivers a special role, as there is a driver shortage of almost 200,000 drivers in Europe, which is expected to rise to 700,000 by 2028. The technology of autonomous driving will significantly improve the work environment, reduce mental and physical fatigue, increase safety, and enable a much more diverse driver pool,” adds Matthiesen.

AI-based, Highly Automated Driving Solution

The semi-autonomous solution was developed in collaboration with the leading commercial vehicle manufacturer IVECO and the Silicon Valley-based self-driving software company, Plus. Equipped with Plus’s AI-based highly automated driving solution and advanced sensors such as Lidar, radar, and cameras, the IVECO S-Way truck provides the driver with a 360-degree view around the vehicle and new ways to monitor traffic and the road, enhancing safety and comfort. Plus’s autonomous driving technology is capable of safely and automatically performing normal driving maneuvers on the highway, including lane changes, driver-initiated or system-suggested lane changes, traffic jam assistance, and starting, with the driver monitoring the system. Additionally, the system can reduce fuel consumption by about 10 percent, thereby decreasing emissions.

Delivery of the Future: Autonomous Driving in Focus
With the testing of the technology, the project partners are paving the way for the later commissioning of semi-autonomous trucks as well as the testing of fully autonomous driving solutions for logistics. Factory-produced self-driving trucks are expected to be commercially available in the USA by 2027 and subsequently in Europe.

Revolutionary Self-Driving Technology

Shawn Kerrigan, COO and co-founder of Plus: “We are proud to celebrate the completion of the pilot project together with our innovative partners DSV, dm-drogerie markt, and IVECO, whose safety and efficiency were enabled by our autonomous driving technology. It is even more fitting to do this in Germany, a country that has recognized the benefits of autonomous vehicles. We look forward to bringing factory-made self-driving trucks with Plus’s revolutionary self-driving technology to market, initially in the USA and then in Europe.”

Marco Liccardo, Chief Technology & Digital Officer of the Iveco Group: “This successful demonstration is another important step on our path to commercializing highly automated driving technologies in the logistics industry. Through this joint pilot project, we were able to validate the capabilities of our advanced driver assistance system in real-world operations and confirm improvements in safety, fuel efficiency, and overall driving performance. These results reinforce our belief that automation will not replace the driver but will enhance their role by reducing fatigue, supporting complex maneuvers, and creating a safer, more productive work environment. We at Iveco Group believe that the future of logistics lies in intelligent, sustainable, and human-centered innovations. Together with our reliable partners DSV, dm-drogerie markt, and Plus, we are working on developing intelligent transport solutions that meet the growing demands for efficiency, sustainability, and driver well-being in Europe and beyond.”

New Opportunities and Jobs

Safety drivers will remain in the driver’s cabin for the foreseeable future until a new ecosystem is developed that regulates, for example, loading or refueling. Matthiesen sees great potential in the technology and provides another outlook for the future: “With the new technology, jobs will not disappear – quite the opposite: new opportunities and jobs will be created. Drivers will be retrained to contribute their expertise in other areas. This is conceivable, for example, in control towers that will closely monitor and support daily operations. New jobs will also be created to conduct checks before and after arrival or to take on many other tasks that still require human action.”

Photo: © DSV