Hanjin Launches South Korea's First Paid Freight Transport Using Autonomous Cargo Trucks

Paid Freight Transport Permit Obtained from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

First Case of Commercial Autonomous Freight Transport

Autonomous Operation on 118km Route from Gunsan Port to Daejeon

Hanjin has launched South Korea's first paid freight transportation service using autonomous cargo trucks, based on close collaboration with government-funded research institutes and advanced autonomous technology companies.

On July 9, Hanjin announced that it has completed a pilot project for the 25-ton autonomous cargo truck and will officially begin commercial paid transport operations.

Hanjin Autonomous Backbone Vehicle. Hanjin

As a result, a 25-ton large truck will autonomously transport actual parcel cargo. The route covers 118 kilometers, running from Gunsan Port in North Jeolla Province, passing through Hanjin's Jeonju Parcel Terminal, and continuing to the Daejeon Mega Hub, operating three times a week. For safety, a professional safety officer will ride in the driver's seat to intervene if necessary.

In the parcel delivery industry, 25-ton cargo trucks are commonly referred to as "backbone trucks." Unlike 1-ton small trucks that deliver packages directly to homes and offices, these backbone trucks are responsible for transporting large quantities of parcel cargo between logistics hubs.

The launch of this autonomous cargo truck paid transportation service was made possible through the "Saemangeum Autonomous Commercial Vehicle Demonstration Infrastructure Project," led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Since September 2023, Hanjin, the Jeonbuk Institute of Automotive Technology (hereinafter "JIAT"), LX Spatial Information Research Institute, and the Korea Integrated Logistics Association have established a joint cooperation system (MOU). The autonomous driving demonstration project has been carried out in stages, and with the recent acquisition of a paid freight transport permit from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, actual operations have commenced.

Unlike previous autonomous cargo truck projects that remained at the level of technical demonstration, this case is significant as it marks the first commercial transport in South Korea to generate revenue by transporting real cargo.

In particular, this project is recognized for rapidly advancing the completeness of autonomous commercial transport through close, field-specific collaboration among participating companies and research institutes.

In this project, Hanjin provided actual logistics operation infrastructure and commercial transport volume, offering a practical foundation to verify how autonomous cargo vehicles can be effectively utilized in real logistics environments.

JIAT was responsible for building the autonomous driving demonstration road infrastructure and test vehicles, while the LX Spatial Information Research Institute handled the development of the autonomous control system. The Korea Integrated Logistics Association took charge of establishing the autonomous driving cooperation framework and ensuring smooth operations.

Through this paid autonomous transportation service, Hanjin has proactively secured practical know-how in freight transport operations aimed at the future logistics market, where autonomous driving will become commonplace.

Hanjin has established a state-of-the-art terminal system equipped with control and recognition equipment that enables autonomous vehicles to independently handle processes from entry into the parcel terminal, waiting, and access to the loading dock. Additionally, the transportation data and diverse operational experience accumulated on actual roads are expected to become Hanjin's unique and valuable assets.

A Hanjin representative stated, "With this first-ever commercial transport using an autonomous cargo truck, we will further strengthen our ability to respond to the future logistics market and accelerate smart logistics innovation by applying advanced technologies such as big data and AI in the field."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.