3. Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO)
The Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO) area of ITS has been defined as ‘‘Advanced systems aimed at simplifying and
automating freight and fleet management operations at the institutional level”, Commercial Vehicle Information Systems
and Networks (CVISN) programs targeting, in particular, safety information exchanges, electronic credentials administration,
and roadside electronic screening.
National or regional authorities, in collaboration with carriers and firms that propose the required technologies, usually
initiate CVO projects. The goal is to increase the performance of the infrastructure (mostly highways) and customs systems,
simplify and automate government control-related freight and fleet management operations, and, thus, enhance the efficiency
of commercial vehicle activities through seamless operations based on electronic vehicle and cargo identification,
location and tracking, pre-clearance and in-motion verifications. These systems rely heavily on vehicle or cargo positioning
systems (GPS or radio frequency networks), bi-directional communications (DSRC, radio, satellite, or wireless phone), and
EDI. The importance of CVO applications has been acknowledged quite early on in ITS history, and a significant number
of CVO projects have been undertaken or are currently under way.
Initial deployment efforts of CVO technologies have been organised around the so-called ‘‘corridors”. A corridor is typically
organised around a major highway, or a system of highways, that cross several regional or national jurisdictions. The
goal is to increase the fluidity of truck traffic and to offer seamless interstate or inter-nation border crossings, while ensuring
adequate levels of control and reporting relative to regulations on safety, traffic, customs, and so on. Weight-in-motion
scales, overweight detectors, EDI, automatic vehicle (and cargo) identification and classification systems, vision technology
(to read license plates), and variable message signs are among the main technologies used. Corridor projects usually involve
national and local governments and agencies, private technology providers (who, sometimes, also contribute significantly to
the financing of the technology deployment), and, obviously, carriers.
Several corridor projects have been undertaken in the second half of the 1990s (Crainic et al., 2000, 2001). In the United
States, these efforts have led to the establishment of two major continental systems, the North American Preclearance and
Safety System (NORPASS) and the PrePass Program (Slevin, 1999). In July 2008, NORPASS (WR2) included 11 members and
partner states/provinces in the United States and Canada, while the PrePass (WR3) network covered 49 states. In July
2008, some 425,000 trucks were enrolled with PrePass, which represents an almost 100% increase in 4 years. Both systems
offer essentially the same services, weight station bypass (weight-in-motion when available) and are based on transponder
technology. The technology now offers transponders that may be used with both systems. A carrier using such transponders
and aiming to operate within both systems must register with each system separately, however, and pay the appropriate
fees. Both systems offer compatibility with other transponder-based systems, e.g., electronic tolls and terminal access.
The TruckScan system installed in the state of New South Wales in Australia (Reid and Myers, 1996; WR9) uses visual recognition
systems coupled to electronic databases, in-motion screening testing for weight (per axle and overall), length and height, and vehicle guidance signs and tracking systems. This passive system is designed to automate and improve the roadside
checking of vehicles. Various in-motion verification, monitoring, and pre-clearance systems are also deployed by Canadian
Provinces (Fu et al., 2003).
In Japan, the emphasis is on the real-time collection of truck operational status and its distribution as basic data to operators,
in line with the heavy promotion and use of advanced traveler information systems and in-vehicle navigation systems.
Efforts are also directed toward the development of integrated and automated terminals, also called ‘‘logistic centers”, new
road management system with dedicated lines for freight vehicles, and an advanced road–vehicle communication and
cruise-assist system (MLITT, 2007, 2008).
In the European Community, the European Commission and the member states have embarked on a comprehensive effort
of research, development, and deployment of ITS. It is an exemplary effort in its reach and scope, as well as in the framework
it established for collaboration and partnership among all the stakeholders – government and public agencies, private firms,
consulting bureaux, universities, research centers, and so on. The website of ERTICO (WR4) together with those of its members
details the many European projects. Two main directions are defined for Freight ITS in the policy of the European Commission
(the White Paper and measures to support freight transport may be found on the site of Directorate General for
Energy and Transport, WR5). The first concerns the connection of the countries of Central and East Europe to the rest of
the continent. ITS is seen as an essential tool to achieve this objective. The second direction concerns the development of
intermodal transportation as the main mechanism to influence the current mode choice that is heavily biased toward trucks
and highways. The document argues that the improvement of infrastructures, such as ports, and the enhancement of information
and decision systems, will result in some of the cargo currently ‘‘on the road” to move to less environmentally invasive
means of transportation such as rail and coastal and fluvial navigation.
A major class of CVO projects, particularly widespread in North America, concerns border-crossing operations. This area
has acquired a sense of urgency and high priority following the terrorist attacks on the United States and the continuing terrorist
threat. Ports have thus become prime targets for ITS and e-business projects with security issues as the driving objective.
While the urgency has been primarily felt in the United States (WR1; TRB, 2002), border CVO systems are being
developed worldwide. The main goal was and continues to be to clear drivers, vehicles, and cargo in order to speed up
the passage of vehicles (trucks, containers, railcars) carrying manufactured and agricultural goods through the border
inspection facilities, within the parameters set by the border control requirements in terms of security, immigration, illicit
cargo, agricultural controls, etc.
The current state of the world affairs and the US response has elevated these issues at a level of urgency and complexity
never felt before. The creation in the United States, in Canada, and elsewhere of new government structures dedicated to
security issues including customs and border control illustrates this urgency.
Several security policies significantly increase delays at ports and border crossings and thus influence the efficiency of
commerce and supply chains. Among others, the US Customs Container Security Initiative (WR6) requires the inspection
and pre-clearance of containers before they leave the port of origin or the last major transhipment port. The US Customs
and Border Protection agency also requires advanced transmission of cargo information for shipments destined for the United
States. Systems are being deployed to mitigate the associated significantly longer delays. For instance, US, Canadian, and
Mexican customs commercial programs are being aligned (the Free and Secure Trade, FAST, program) to support moving preapproved
goods quickly across borders. The program is based on registering and pre-approving import/export firms (shippers),
carriers, and drivers.
For ports and border ITS/CVO, as for most other ITS areas, the development of the ‘‘intelligence” part must accompany that
of the hardware and the availability of information. Very few efforts have been undertaken in this area, however. The determination
of the optimal number of containers to be inspected to satisfy the security requirements and to limit the delays in
ports is an example of such a topic (Lee et al., 2008; Lewis et al., 2002, 2003). Many challenges and opportunities are also
offered by the intense automation of container terminals in ports (Crainic and Kim, 2007).