The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has announced a significant development in the realm of autonomous freight transport. On July 9, the ministry revealed plans to designate pilot operation zones for freight transport by identifying long-distance and wide-area routes, including highways. This announcement comes in conjunction with the revised Autonomous Vehicle Act, which will come into effect on July 10.
The revised act, which was amended in January, allows the ministry to designate wide-area routes as pilot operation zones through consultations with local governments, even without applications from the heads of local governments. This change aims to eliminate the previous limitations that made it difficult to designate long-distance and wide-area routes spanning multiple local governments as pilot operation zones.
“The ministry plans to designate pilot operation zones for freight transport by identifying long-distance and wide-area routes, including highways,” stated a representative from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. “The ministry also plans to establish and announce the licensing criteria for the autonomous freight transport business.”
Until now, pilot operation zones were designated based on applications from local government heads, which resulted in 35 out of the 36 pilot operation zones nationwide being limited to single local governments. This restriction made it challenging to designate the long-distance routes necessary for demonstrating autonomous freight transport technology. The only exception was the Chungcheong area, which included Daejeon City, Sejong City, and Chungbuk province.
The ministry’s new approach aims to address these challenges by actively identifying autonomous freight transport routes under the revised law. Demonstrating autonomous freight transport technology on long-distance routes, such as highways, is essential for its development and broader adoption.
Pilot operation zones will serve as special districts where various regulatory exceptions, such as paid transport exceptions and automobile safety standards exceptions, are possible. These zones will facilitate the demonstration of various services using autonomous driving technology, thereby promoting innovation and development in the industry.
To further support the autonomous freight transport business, the ministry plans to establish the necessary conditions to eliminate uncertainties in the industry. This includes preparing detailed standards and procedures for safety verification, such as a 60-day pre-operation period, prohibition of hazardous materials loading, and mandatory liability insurance.
As the revised Autonomous Vehicle Act comes into effect, the ministry’s efforts to designate pilot operation zones and establish clear licensing criteria are expected to pave the way for significant advancements in autonomous freight transport.