English Information
DataRoads Objectives
DataRoads will deal, in the first phase, with the transport sector in the Netherlands and then move into Europe as a whole.
The international transport sector has moved dramatically the last years into new transport modes (multi- and intermodal transport), use of containers, just-in-time principles, door-to-door supply. All these changes were necessary for the transport service providers in order to survive and to keep their position on the international market. On the other hand prices come down and customers become more critical in demanding new services. Customer satisfaction becomes a high priority in the sector. Information- and Communication Technology (ICT) will play a more important role. All vehicles must be linked to the internal information system that has already been automated.
This link between the vehicle-in-the-field and the Information System is necessary for planning, tracing and tracking, but also for a new method of contact between the driver and his back office.
The liberalization of the transport market has greatly influenced the legislation and regulation of the sector. The absence of taxes at the borders - due to the creation of the Internal Market in the European Union - has speeded up the price war in the sector. While salaries increase, shippers request lower prices for their traffic. This means that efficiency and better productivity are part of a new strategy. The independent trucker becomes a means for efficiency and higher productivity. In order to protect the independent trucker against the shippers and to provide him with quality of service, the service centers were born. These centers act as a broker between the driver and his client and the public authorities. By this way the independent trucker can also profit of the bigger scale provided by the service center.
The aim of the project is to provide Truckers Teleservices with a low cost, reliable and flexible solution which will give them access to information that suits and helps their needs. This concept will also be of great help in "Tracking and Tracing" in situations such as "Foot-and-mouth-disease".
The main objective of the project is to provide all truckers an integrated service center that deals with all needs related to transport can provoke. The use of ICT will be crucial in the success of these services offered and the Internet platform will be the transport mechanism for these services. The new Multimedia Technologies now offer the possibilities of real user-friendly solutions for users that are not at all computer experienced.
The development of an innovative concept of "Transport service providers" taking into account economic competitiveness, social well being of truckers, efficiency of road capacity systems and the protection of the environment are crucial challenges within this project. From a social viewpoint the introduction of environmental and welfare improving techniques is recommended, because no welfare can be created without transport and no well being without respect for the environment.
Economic growth needs a good environmental friendly transport system. DataRoads will contribute to this goal. By using the maximum capacity of the available transport means (by reducing driving empty, shortest way, maximal load capacity) will minimize all negative effects of the transport.
