Simulations show that truck platooning technology can reduce travel times by up to 13 seconds per vehicle on a five mile section of I-85 in Alabama.

A USDOT-sponsored research effort.

Date Posted
11/21/2017
Identifier
2017-B01200
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Evaluation of Driver Assistive Truck Platooning on Traffic Flow

Summary Information

FHWA-sponsored research conducted by Auburn University has produced preliminary findings on travel time savings from truck platooning.



CORSIM software was used to build the simulation network and model the performance of driver assisted truck platooning (DATP) technology. Interstate 85 in Alabama was chosen for the simulation as it was considered to be a representative segment of rural freeway and small urban area interaction, where long distance freight movement occur. Traffic data were obtained from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)



T-test and a multilevel ANOVA methods were used to show which traffic simulation cases and DATP parameters were statistically significant.

FINDINGS

The simulation study estimated significant travel time reduction benefits ranging from 7.69 to 13.26 seconds (with market penetration rates of 20 to 100 percent, respectively) with platooning vehicle headways set at 0.5 seconds during peak-hour periods on a 5.3 mile section of I-85.

100% Peak Hour Volume – Travel Time Benefit

Market Penetration
Headway
(Seconds)
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1.25
*
*
*
7.85 (41.07%)
9.24 (48.35%)
1
*
*
8.17 (42.75%)
9.74 (50.96%)
11.30 (59.13%)
0.75
*
8.79 (45.99%)
10.08 (52.74%)
10.66 (55.78%)
12.66 (66.24%)
0.5
7.69 (40.24%)
9.75 (51.02%)
10.92 (57.14%)
12.09 (63.26%)
13.26 (69.38%)
  • * not statistically significant