Study Group Position Papers

Developed by the Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) S.1 Electrical Study Group Next Generation Tractor/Trailer Electrical Interface Task Force

TMC’s S.1 Electrical Study Group and its Next Generation Tractor/Trailer Electrical Interface Task Force developed this position paper to provide a set of technical characteristics to facilitate advancement of trailer technology through modernizing the truck/trailer interface in a way that minimizes the burden on fleets and individual owner/operators, and allows for the best opportunity for successful industry adoption without causing unnecessary business disruption yet still provide the necessary expansions to accommodate future truck/trailer functionality. TMC recommends that the industry consider these criteria in development of TMC Recommended Practices and design and testing norms by industry standards organizations.

ABSTRACT
The Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) S.18 Automated Vehicle Platooning Task Force examined the current state of truck platooning commercialization by examining a variety of use cases, trials, and current efforts towards product introduction. The Task Force found that, despite intense activity over the last decade, current commercial activity to introduce platooning in longhaul operations is minimal, even as it is gaining a foothold in off-highway niche markets. To the degree that commercialization becomes relevant, TMC provides herein several recommendations that system developers should address to best serve the interest of trucking fleets.

S.7 Trailers, Bodies & Material Handling Study Group Position Paper:

TMC PP 2023-1: Design Recommendations for Next Generation Trailer Electrical Architecture