T2 and partners to test autonomous truck and rail logistics

Four companies—T2, S&B Foods, Otafuku Sauce, and Ebara Logistics—will begin a demonstration project on September 8, 2026, to test a “modal combination” transport model. This initiative combines autonomous trucks with freight rail to address the growing shortage of truck drivers in Japan.

The four-day demonstration will cover an approximately 850km route between the Kanto and Chugoku regions. The companies will use a specialized 31-foot shared container developed by T2 and JR Freight to facilitate direct transfers between trains and trucks.

During the outbound trip, S&B Foods products, such as curry powder and wasabi, will be transported from Saitama to Osaka via T2’s autonomous trucks, then moved by JR Freight rail to Hiroshima. On the return trip, Otafuku Sauce products will be transported from Hiroshima back to Kanagawa using a similar combination of rail and autonomous trucking. The project aims to verify transport quality and operational efficiency as a precursor to commercial Level 4 autonomous long-haul transport services.