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Abstract

Truck platooning, a technology where connected and automated trucks travel in closely linked convoys, promises significant reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. However, these long convoys present a major safety hazard on existing roadways, particularly on rural two-lane undivided highways. On these roads, human drivers must use the oncoming traffic lane to overtake, and a long truck platoon acts as a dangerous and extended barrier. To address this problem, we established a comprehensive framework to safely integrate platoons into mixed traffic. The research progressed through four steps. First, we modeled the precise time and distance required for a human driver to safely pass a platoon. Second, we developed a dynamic algorithm that determines safe platooning limits, such as the maximum number of trucks allowed, based on real-time road geometry and oncoming traffic. Third, we tested these rules using advanced traffic simulations. Finally, we designed an active gap opening control system, allowing automated trucks to proactively split apart and provide a safe harbor for passing vehicles. Our findings demonstrate that while long platoons operate safely on multilane highways, they require strict, dynamic limitations on two-lane roads. This research provides transportation policymakers with a clear, data-driven blueprint. By shifting from rigid rules to context-aware operational rules and utilizing cooperative gap opening technologies, agencies can preserve the economic benefits of truck platooning while rigorously protecting the safety of everyday drivers.

How to Cite

Song, Yu "Fred", Raul Freyre, and Zaw Than Soe. Improving Compatibility of Truck Platooning with Existing Infrastructure via Development of Dynamic Operational Rules on Highway Networks, CTIPS-26-005. North Dakota State University - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Fargo: Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability, 2026.