Efficient last-mile delivery remains a critical challenge for rural agricultural logistics, globally, particularly in cold-climate regions with dispersed agricultural operations. Truck–drone hybrids can reduce delivery times but face payload limits, cold-weather battery loss, and beyond-visual-line-of-sight regulations.
Bridges are critical nodes in freight networks, yet limited funding prevents agencies from maintaining all structures in good condition. This creates the need for a transparent and scalable method to identify which bridges pose the greatest risk to supply chain continuity.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has demonstrated significant potential to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry. Multiple national and international initiatives have been launched to accelerate SAF adoption, yet large-scale commercialization continues to face technological, operational, and regulatory barriers. Industry 4.0 provides a suite of advanced technologies that can address these challenges and improve SAF operations across the supply chain.
The evolution of autonomous trucking in North Dakota and the Northern Plains will be the focus of a September 15 and 16 conference at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. Registration is free and is now open. For more details on the agenda and for information regarding hotel accommodations visit the Autonomous Trucking Conference page.
