Tools for autonomous logistics operations and management

Fleet operators will soon manage vehicles that drive themselves, not just track the ones with human drivers. This project tackles a gap in current logistics software. Existing fleet management systems are built for human-driven trucks and vans—they handle routing, scheduling, and driver breaks. But autonomous vehicles change the rules: no driver fatigue, no legal limits on hours, but new constraints around charging, maintenance, and remote supervision. The OECD projects 70% fewer vehicles on the road, yet those vehicles will travel further. KPMG expects autonomous vehicles to form a significant share of sales by 2040. Current planning tools cannot handle this shift. If the research succeeds, logistics companies will have software designed from the ground up for driverless fleets. That could mean fewer trucks on motorways, lower operating costs, and more efficient delivery networks. The public might notice fewer delivery vans clogging city streets, but the real change happens in the systems that quietly route goods from warehouses to shops. This is applied commercial research with a clear near-term target: making autonomous fleet operations work at scale.