Scania and Acotral start real-life platooning in Spain
9 MARCH 2018
The major Spanish transporter Acotral has now put two platooning convoys with Scania trucks into operation on its Ribarroja–Getafe and Valladolid–Getafe routes.
During several months of preparations, Scania and Acotral have worked together to implement smart transport systems on Spanish roads. In platoons, the vehicles drive in proximity to achieve fuel-efficient and aerodynamic formations on motorways.
Advanced vehicle technology and software automatically control the distance between the trucks by making full use of connectivity and driver assistance systems.
Following practical and theoretical training of drivers, a pilot test is now being carried out in actual transport operations. Two convoys with three Scania R 450 trucks each are now in operation between Ribarroja and Getafe, and Valladolid and Getafe, a distance of 350 and 200 kilometres respectively. Acotral and Scania will continue driving these routes until the end of April, when results will be analysed to consider possible extension to additional routes.
Founded in 1970, Acotral presently operates 1,600 trucks with more than 6,000 daily deliveries and is the primary transporter for Spain’s largest food retailer, Mercadona. Headquartered outside Malaga, Acotral has depots throughout Spain with subsidiaries in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Romania.
