Prepared For
Transport Canada
Surface Transportation Policy
by
Sabounghi & Associates
and
Delcan Corporation
November 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary
1. Introduction
2. Current ITS use in the Canadian Motor Carrier Industry
3. Possible Barriers to ITS Deployment
4. Potential Future Growth of ITS in the Canadian Motor Carrier Industry
5. Conclusion
APPENDIX A - Description of U.S. National ITS Architecture User Services
APPENDIX B - Description of U.S. National ITS Architecture Subsystems
APPENDIX C - Extract from Publication of the ATA Foundation
Summary Report (3 Pages)

The "Study on ITS Applications within the Canadian Trucking Industry" is available in PDF format (file size 367 KB) and may be viewed using version 3.0 or higher of the Adobe® Acrobat Reader. This reader may be downloaded free of charge by visiting the Adobe® web site.

ITS Report.PDF (367 KB)
Summary Report.PDF (13 KB)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The motor carrier industry is a player in a total system that includes shippers, regulators, customers, carriers (all modes), roadway users, and owners. The system is complex and highly competitive. To increase its safety and efficiency, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies are being considered. ITS can be defined as the application of advanced information processing, communications, sensing and control technologies to improve the way in which ground transportation systems are designed, built, managed, and operated. ITS is refined into subsystems which include Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS), Advanced Traveller Information Systems (ATIS), Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS), Advanced Rural Transportation Systems (ARTS), Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO), Advanced Vehicle Control & Safety Systems (AVCSS), and Automated Highway Systems (AHS). Most of these subsystems must interact with each other to yield an integrated solution. The U.S. National ITS Architecture further defines ITS into a multitude of user services. Some of these services are specifically useful to motor carriers while others are of general use.

Although the public generally sees ITS through the development of smarter vehicles that are safer and more efficient, to fully appreciate the potential for ITS applications within the motor carrier industry, both the back office and the road environment / activities must be considered:

• e-commerce; 
• location and tracking systems;
• telecommunications;
• travel and driver information;
• on-board systems;
• inter-modal operations and requirements;
• cross-border aspects; and
• regulatory and administrative aspects from safety to permits and credentials.

This Report summarizes the findings of the investigation on ITS in the motor carrier arena, or as it is known in ITS "Commercial Vehicle Operations" (CVO), from a total system approach involving all stakeholders. The Report is presented in the following sections:

Chapter 1 - provides an overview on the major ITS systems as defined by the U.S. National ITS Architecture, the CVO functionalities, and the enabling technologies. It also defines the various stakeholders from the public sector, the private sector, and the consumer / user groups.

Chapter 2 - provides an inventory of the various ITS technologies demonstrated or currently being used by the motor carrier industry in some of the CVO initiatives undertaken in Canada, particularly, COMPASS Freeway Traffic Management System, Highway 407 Express Toll Route, HELP Program / Crescent Demonstration, AVION / Advantage I-75, MONY Project, and the motor carrier safety data program (CVISN). The benefits of the implementation of commercial vehicle electronic screening and carrier operations, the two most critical functionalities relating to CVO, are presented. The expected penetration rates by 2002 of ITS-CVO technologies and applications are forecasted based on survey results from the Canadian stakeholders. Some recent statistics on use of enabling technologies in dealing with customers and in managing trucking fleets of the motor carrier industry highlight the differences between the U.S. and Canadian carriers.

Chapter 3 - assesses the possible barriers to further deployment of ITS technologies in the motor carrier industry. Criteria used for this assessment include: a) the nature, the structure and the competitiveness of the motor carrier industry; b) the role of governments in setting policy, programs, and regulatory frameworks; and, c) the current state of development of ITS standards and their recognition by facility authorities, the motor carrier industry, and the vehicle and technology manufacturers.

Chapter 4 - assesses the potential for ITS use in the motor carrier industry, and estimates future growth. The relative priority levels for ITS user services relating to CVO are listed as a measure of the potential market penetration in the 5, 10 and 20-year time frames.

Chapter 5 - is the concluding chapter summarizing the key findings on use of ITS by trucking and its potential for the industry if barriers are overcome. It also brings the latest news about the Transport Canada ITS-CVO Program unveiled at the November 1999 ITS World Congress in Toronto.

Appendices - provide the detailed description of the ITS user services as identified by the U.S. ITS Architecture under Appendix A, the detailed description of the Centre Subsystems, and the Roadside / Vehicle / Traveller Subsystems under Appendix B, and an extract from a publication presenting the ITS-CVO as seen from the trucking companies' point of view under Appendix C.

From experience learned and building on the CVO initiatives in Canada, Commercial Vehicle Electronic Clearance demonstrated or deployed under the C-HELP and AVION Projects can be incrementally expanded to cover the National Highway System. It is expected that with the inter-operability concepts resulting from an open ITS architecture, relevant standards, combined with an outreach program, all commercial vehicles would be able to operate in an efficient, safe, seamless, and paperless environment under an integrated multi-application CVO deployment in the not-too-distant future. The enhancement to the ATMS, ATIS, and AVCSS functions as a result of the CVO applications would also extend the customer base of these functional areas to the automobile drivers and the community at large. This Study also recognized that one of the main impediments to advancing ITS in the CVO sector was a lack of sector education and an outreach program. This Report would aim to contribute in addressing this issue.