Japan’s 500 km long super conveyor belt replaces 25,000 trucks every day
Japan is set to revolutionize its logistics sector with the introduction of a massive 500km conveyor system connecting Tokyo and Osaka. This groundbreaking project, dubbed the “Automated Line”, will operate 24 hours a day, transporting the equivalent of 25,000 truckloads of goods per day.
Announced by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the “Automated Road” is designed to operate like an airport cargo conveyor or mining conveyor mine. Built between highways, along roads and through tunnels, this giant conveyor belt will transport goods automatically using driverless electric vehicles. The system aims to address Japan’s labor shortage and reduce carbon emissions. This will solve the problem of population aging, which is a headache in this land of cherry blossoms.
The super conveyor belt is expected to come into operation within the next decade, at an estimated cost of up to 80 billion yen for every 10 km of route. Automated logistics conveyors are strategically designed to maximize road space, taking advantage of hard shoulders, medians and underground tunnels.
The launch of the Autoflow-Road initiative comes as Japan faces a rapidly aging population and a growing shortage of delivery drivers. The new regulations further limit drivers’ allowed overtime to just 18 hours per week, exacerbating the labor crisis. Slow shipping times can significantly affect the quality of goods, especially when more than 90% of goods in Japan are transported by road.
The International Transport Forum (ITF) shares that trade-related freight transport accounts for more than 7% of total global CO2 emissions and about 30% of transport-related emissions. Long distances and long transit times in Japan’s logistics industry make it difficult to rely solely on electric vehicles (EVs). To combat CO2 emissions, many logistics companies have turned to high-speed rail combined with smaller trucks for more efficient transportation.
Such creative ideas will help Japan solve the difficult problems that weigh on their shoulders every day and every hour.
