TIER IV, Yamato Transport and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) have completed proof-of-concept tests for autonomous long-haul trucking in Japan, using a semi-trailer truck equipped with Level 2+ driving technology to transport freight between Tokyo and Osaka.
The trials were conducted from Feb. 16 to Feb. 20, 2026 along a roughly 500-kilometer route linking Yamato Transport’s Haneda Chronogate Base in Tokyo with its Kansai Gateway Base in Osaka. Over the five-day test period, the vehicle completed two round trips carrying customer cargo.
During each journey, the truck operated in hands-free mode for approximately 100 kilometers on the Shin-Tomei Expressway in Shizuoka Prefecture. A driver remained in the cab to monitor the system and intervene when required.
The project forms part of a broader Japanese government initiative aimed at advancing autonomous logistics on public roads.
Engineers evaluated several aspects of the system during the tests, including vehicle performance, schedule reliability and operational workflows.
Vehicle performance data collected during the trial included trailer motion metrics such as sway and articulation trajectories. The team also monitored lane-keeping accuracy, hands-off driving duration and conditions that triggered manual driver intervention.
The partners said the tests confirmed that the Level 2+ system was able to maintain travel schedules comparable to conventional manual operations, with no delays recorded during autonomous driving segments.
Operational procedures were also tested during the trial. The project evaluated automated pre-trip inspection systems such as tire pressure checks and remote monitoring of vehicle status and surroundings, which are expected to support future Level 4 autonomous operations.
A participating driver involved in the test said the system required an initial adjustment period.
“Once I understood how the system behaves, I felt at ease,” the driver said, adding that autonomous trucks could become an important tool for maintaining logistics capacity.
TIER IV develops Autoware, an open-source autonomous driving software platform used in a range of mobility applications. The company provides technology and system integration services including software development, vehicle procurement and operational support.
Yamato Transport is one of Japan’s largest logistics companies, while Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation supplied the semi-tractor used in the test.
The companies said data and operational insights from the trial will be used to further refine autonomous driving technology with the aim of deploying Level 4 autonomous trucks on Yamato Group’s long-haul transport routes.