Long-haul autonomous truck testing in Japan

TIER IV, the pioneering force behind open-source software for autonomous driving, has completed proof of concept tests for long-haul autonomous trucking with Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. (Yamato Transport) and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC).

The tests, part of a Japanese government initiative, evaluated vehicle performance, safety protocols and operational workflows, with customer freight transported on a semi-trailer truck equipped with Level 2+ technology.

The data and operational insights gathered will be used to refine autonomous driving technology, with the ultimate goal of integrating Level 4 trucks into Yamato Group’s long-haul transportation routes.

A side view of the test truck. Image: Yamato Transport.

The testing period took place from 16-20 February 2026 on a route from the Haneda Chronogate Base Tokyo to the Kansai Gateway Base in Osaka.

Two round trips (four legs) of the approximately 500-km route were completed. The truck operated at Level 2+ for 100 km on the Shin-Tomei Expressway between two service areas in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The truck was evaluated on a number of areas during the tests, including:

Vehicle performance and safety

Collection of trailer motion data, including sway and articulation trajectories.

Performance verification, tracking hands-off duration and lane-keeping accuracy.

Analysis of surrounding conditions, driver decision-making criteria and other factors linked to manual interventions.

Travel time – Confirmation that schedules were maintained during Level 2+ driving as reliably as during manual operations, without delays.

Operational workflows – Trials of systems that automate parts of the pre-trip inspection, such as tire pressure checks.

Remote monitoring of vehicle status and surroundings to prepare for future Level 4 operations.

The test driver said of the experience: “There was a bit of a learning curve at first, but once I understood how the system behaves, I felt at ease. Looking ahead, I hope autonomous trucks become a reliable partner for us, helping to maintain our hauling capacity.”