Advanced trailer operation test at Tomakomai Port

MITSUI E&S, Tomakomai Kuribayashi Transportation, and Hino Motors conducted a demonstration experiment at Tomakomai International Container Terminal from 11-13 January 2025.

This initiative was part of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Port Technology Development Program, which focused on enhancing trailer operations in container yards.

With labor shortages and an aging workforce affecting regional ports like Tomakomai, improving working conditions, enhancing safety, and attracting younger workers are critical challenges. To address these issues, the three companies collaborated to test advanced trailer operations for container transport within the port.

Traditionally, port drivers rely on paper instructions, but in this test, driver-assisted trailers received automated work instructions from the Terminal Operation System (TOS). This approach reduced driver workload, allowing them to focus on safety. The experiment successfully verified:

• Seamless data integration between TOS, vehicle control systems, and trailers.
• Efficient synchronization with port equipment like gantry cranes and RTGs.
• Precision vehicle control, including remote maneuvering and directional adjustments for containers.

Using “HINO PROFIA” heavy-duty trucks equipped with GNSS, 3D-LiDAR, and white line detection cameras, the trial demonstrated the system’s ability to accurately position vehicles and optimize operations in the dynamic environment of a container terminal.