Freight technology programs
Transport will deliver a major uplift in technology to facilitate more efficient operations across the road and rail freight network and help strengthen the economy. We will work in partnerships with industry on these projects to enable the safe, productive and sustainable movement of goods.
We will conduct trials of traffic priority for heavy freight vehicles using 5G vehicle-to-infrastructure communication between trucks and the traffic management system. Trials will test the ability to prioritise the movement of goods on primary freight corridors to support efficient deliveries and more reliable access to ports and intermodal facilities.
We will also trial new options for last-mile freight deliveries, including small electric vehicles for last-mile urban deliveries, offering cleaner and quieter operations that lower fuel costs, support successful places and may enable flexible delivery hours. Trials will identify improved freight and environmental outcomes.
In an important step to better use of freight related insights, we will collect more data on freight trends to improve forecasting models that will better inform the design and delivery of freight infrastructure and servicing, including place-based precinct planning. We will investigate more approaches to collect and analyse freight data to provide a holistic view of end-to-end freight journeys and to help find more efficient and effective ways to move freight.
We will develop a business case and funding pathway for a Freight Community System that will follow the container supply chain, including from port to intermodal terminals and distribution centres, and back to port. This will explore ways to integrate live data and systems across the end-to-end supply chain to improve the efficiency and quality of information transfer, and to better understand the touchpoints and movement of goods throughout the supply chain.
We will also explore more use of automatic number plate recognition cameras to track container movements to distribution centres and intermodal terminals in Sydney, and we will investigate network utilisation data collected via telematics combined with NSW’s road and rail asset data, to improve network management decisions including smarter access, maintenance and investment decisions.
Transport will deliver a major technology uplift to support freight tasks across NSW in support of the NSW Freight and Ports Plan 2018-2023:
Key to priority alignment
 Mobility as a Service |  Connected and automated vehicles |  Zero emissions vehicles |
 Regional mobility |  Freight efficiency |  Sensors and intelligent systems |
Ref | Freight technology programs | Priority alignment |
We will deliver | ||
| T058 | Freight signal priority trial Trialling 5G vehicle-to-infrastructure communication between heavy freight vehicles and the traffic management system, to prioritise the movement of goods on primary freight corridors. |      |
| T059 | Last-Mile Urban Freight Exploring alternative delivery approaches and modes, including electric/hybrid vehicles for urban delivery. Trials will identify options for improved environmental and deliveries outcomes. | |
| T060 | Better places through better data to inform planning Modernising and improving planning for freight in building and precinct design. The program collects data on freight trends and develops forecasting models which can be used by industry and government stakeholders to inform the design of freight infrastructure and servicing activity during place-based planning. | |
We will also investigate | ||
| T061 | Cameras in Sydney metro area provide freight performance data Expand rollout of Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to follow the container supply chain in Sydney, including from port to intermodal terminals and distribution centres and back to port. Visibility of this freight task improves road access, network management and rail policy decisions. | |
| T062 | Freight Community System Investigate a Freight Community System that will follow the container supply chain, including from port to intermodal terminals and distribution centres, and back to port. This will explore ways to integrate live data and systems across the end-to-end supply chain to improve the efficiency and quality of information transfer, and to better understand the touchpoints and movement of goods throughout the supply chain. | |
| T063 | Machine learning analytics on heavy vehicle movements Use machine learning software and cameras to track heavy vehicle movements in order to measure compliance, optimise road usage, and proactively manage risk by, for example, giving an alert to drivers of over-height vehicles to nearby tunnels or low structures and identify alternative routes | |
| T064 | Telematics and freight data uplift Combine NSW road and rail asset data with network utilisation data collected via telematics, to improve network management decisions including smarter access, maintenance and investment decisions. | |
| T065 | Remote asset monitoring and compliance Expanding the use of sensors and other emerging technologies to monitor assets critical to the freight network such as bridges and compliance of users to load restrictions through sensor and video technology. | |
| T066 | Automated freight vehicles Developing trials of the use of automated vehicles for both first and last mile deliveries, as well as heavy freight, to improve productivity | |
Note: Project information provided can be subject to change, particularly for projects still in investigation.
Table 6.4 – Future technology programs for freight