What's happened
Japan is set to construct an automated 'conveyor-belt road' between Tokyo and Osaka to address a truck driver shortage. The project aims to handle logistics efficiently, with trials starting in 2027 and full operations expected by the mid-2030s. It could replace the work of 25,000 drivers daily.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the conveyor-belt road is part of Japan's strategy to address soaring delivery demands and a chronic labor shortage. Yuri Endo, a senior official at the Ministry of Land, stated, "We need to be innovative with the way we approach roads." Meanwhile, Business Insider UK highlights that the project could cost up to £3.7 trillion and aims for full operations by the mid-2030s. The Independent emphasizes the urgency of the project, noting that without intervention, Japan's transport capacity could decline by 34% by 2030 due to the driver shortage. This multifaceted approach to logistics reflects a broader trend in Japan's transportation sector, where similar automated systems are being considered in other countries like Switzerland and the UK.
How we got here
Japan faces a significant truck driver shortage, exacerbated by new laws limiting overtime. This shortage is projected to leave a third of cargo undelivered by 2030, prompting innovative solutions like the proposed automated transport system.
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Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
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