eFREIGHT Autonomous Identifies Key Routes for Early Self-Driving HGV Deployment in UK

A new industry study led by the eFREIGHT Autonomous consortium has identified motorway freight trunking and short intermodal logistics routes as the most practical starting points for introducing autonomous heavy goods vehicles on UK roads.

The findings were unveiled during Voltempo’s Autonomous conference in Birmingham earlier this month, where logistics operators, vehicle manufacturers, technology companies and government representatives gathered to discuss the future of self-driving freight transport.

Consortium backed by government innovation funding

The eFREIGHT Autonomous programme is led by Voltempo in partnership with Connected Places Catapult and Berkeley Coachworks.

The initiative secured support through Innovate UK and Zenzic’s CAM Pathfinder Feasibility Studies competition, part of wider government efforts to accelerate connected and automated mobility technologies.

Over the past nine months, the consortium has engaged with freight operators, policymakers and major European truck manufacturers to assess where autonomous freight could deliver the greatest operational and commercial benefits.

Focus on predictable freight routes

According to the study, the most suitable early deployment opportunities involve controlled and repeatable logistics operations where routes are highly predictable and operational variables can be managed more easily.

The report identifies two primary use cases:

• Hub-to-hub motorway freight operations between logistics centres

• Short intermodal shuttle services connecting ports, rail terminals and distribution hubs

The consortium said these environments provide the clearest pathway for measuring gains in productivity, safety, vehicle utilisation and emissions reduction.

UK approaching key legislative milestone

The study concludes that autonomous freight technology is progressing rapidly beyond pilot schemes internationally, while the UK is now approaching an important regulatory phase through implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024.

Voltempo corporate development officer Michael Boxwell said the project has focused on identifying where autonomous systems can create genuine value for freight operators while also understanding the conditions needed for practical deployment.

He added that the combination of advancing technology, growing commercial interest and emerging legislation means autonomous freight is no longer a distant concept for the UK logistics sector.

New autonomous HGV concepts under development

Alongside operational studies, the consortium has also been working with government and vehicle manufacturers on concepts for new types of autonomous freight vehicles.

This includes lightweight “smart trailer” designs intended to increase payload capacity by around 15% while simultaneously reducing vehicle weight by approximately 10%.

According to the consortium, wider adoption of such vehicle concepts could potentially remove more than 22,000 heavy vehicles from UK roads while reducing fleet operating costs by up to 37%.

Trials expected later this decade

The next phase of the programme is expected to focus on supporting real-world autonomous freight trials in the UK from 2027 onwards.

The consortium said it will continue collaborating with freight operators, OEMs and government bodies as the sector moves closer towards commercial deployment of automated logistics operations.