Truck platooning in the context of sustainable development’s targets defined in european union’s strategies

Abstract

Background: Consequence of growing consumer market is grow of transportation and logistics sector estimated in Europe at 42% by 2050. Therefore innovations in transportation have recently become one of key focus areas for enterprises’ supply chains and for authorities. Challenge is not only how to meet market expectations but also how to achieve this in line with sustainable development’s principles. The aim of the paper is to resolve the research problem regarding the magnitude of contribution of truck platooning to the sustainable development in the context of selected European Union’s strategies. Methods: Based on literature review, author attempted to add value by this publication by establishing the connection between truck platooning and sustainable development’s targets defined in European Union’s strategies. Results: Author was able to identify strengths and weaknesses of truck platooning in the context of sustainable development criteria: economical in terms of generating efficiencies for transport industry thanks to fuel reduction, ecological in terms of contributing to lower CO2 emission and social in terms of giving the possibility of transforming the job of a truck driver as well as increasing the safety on the roads. Conclusions: Conducted research indicates that the thesis that truck platooning fits in with the European Union’s strategies as one of the elements supporting sustainable development has been partially confirmed and partially denied. Truck platooning may support sustainable development’s targets, however due to its limitations the magnitude of its contribution is not significant.