Societal and Industrial Expectations for the Future of Road Freight Transport Vehicles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14513/sbe.00635Keywords:
Alternative Fuels, Industrial Needs, Road Freight Transport, Societal Expectations, Sustainability, Automation, Transport InnovationAbstract
Road freight transport continues to play a key role in the functioning of global and regional supply chains, but both industry and society are placing increasingly high demands on future vehicle technologies. In addition to increasing economic efficiency, there is an increasingly urgent need to reduce environmental impact, improve safety, and integrate digitalization and automation into road freight transport. The aim of this study is to map and systematize the expectations of industrial and social actors regarding future road freight vehicles, with a particular focus on sustainability, technological development, and regulatory trends. This study identifies and models the fundamental tensions between societal expectations and industrial realities as one of the main obstacles to the sustainable transition of road freight transport.
The thesis is based on a review of the literature and an analysis of current policy documents, and provides a structured discussion of the expected impacts of technological trends such as electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, autonomous systems, and smart logistics networks. The study also looks at how social preferences are changing and what responses are required from decision-makers, manufacturers, and logistics providers. The findings of the research can provide guidance for both industrial developments and transport policy measures aimed at creating sustainable and competitive road freight transport.
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Copyright (c) 2026 István Egervári, Csaba I. Hencz (Author)
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