COMPUTER INTEGRATED TRANSPORT LOGISTICS FOR EUROPEAN TRAFFICS

This paper describes three projects for computer integrated transport logistics for European traffic, under the European DRIVE and PROMETHEUS programmes. It emphasises their key points and their possible effects on commercial introduction of new technology, and discusses ongoing and future research activities. The DRIVE project FLEET (Freight and Logistic Efforts for European Traffic) aims to improve the efficiency, safety, reliability, and working conditions of freight transport and commercial vehicle operation, by introducing an integrated system solution into commercial freight and fleet management and control, based on information and telecommunications technologies. It will also help to reduce environmental pollution and road capacity demand. The PROMETHEUS Commercial Fleet Management (CFM) demonstration project tests some of FLEET's concepts and results at the logistic, fleet and vehicle management levels. It has been concerned with the information chain, forward managing centre, dispatching management system, and vehicle management system of a freight operation, and will also conduct pilot installations, large- scale field tests, and research on future technologies. The DRIVE II project IFMS (Integrated Freight/Fleet and Vehicle Management Systems) will take the next steps to the commercial operation of the basic FLEET concept. For the covering abstract see IRRD 867146.