Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed relevant departments to develop a project to create a system of unmanned cargo transport routes in the country until the summer. This is to prevent a transport crisis caused by a growing shortage of drivers, the Sankei newspaper reports.
For unmanned delivery of goods, it is planned to use special automatic platforms that will move along the sides of expressways already existing in Japan. If necessary, tunnels will be built for them.
Automated platforms will begin delivering goods to collection points, from where regular trucks with drivers will deliver them to consumers.
Due to Japan's aging and shrinking population, there is a growing acute shortage of professional drivers. The problem will be exacerbated by the introduction of strict overtime restrictions for drivers from June this year. This ceiling is set at 960 hours per year. As a result, Japan will lose 14% of its cargo capacity already this fiscal year. By 2030, if the current situation continues, this shortage will grow to 34%, which could cause a serious economic crisis.