Reorganising Logistics Operations Under Automation: A Case Study on Autonomous Truck Implementation in Road Freight

Sammanfattning

The development of autonomous trucks has the potential to transform road freight transport,but the implementation of the vehicles involves more than the introduction of new vehicletechnology. This study investigates how logistics service providers (LSPs) may need toreorganise their operations when autonomous trucks are introduced. Additionally, the thesisfocuses on vehicle operations, customer interactions, value creation and implementationbarriers.The study is based on a qualitative single case study of DFDS, combining semi-structuredinterviews with industry practitioners and experts with a thematic analysis approach. TheBusiness Model Canvas (BMC) is used as an analytical framework to examine how thecurrent business model may be changed during autonomous transport conditions.The results indicate that the truck driver currently functions as a bundled operationalresource, combining driving, coordination, communication, and problem-solving tasks. Whenthis role is reduced or removed, these functions do not disappear but must be redistributedacross digital systems, new organisational roles, and predefined workflows. This indicatesthat implementation requires a change and reorganisation of vehicle operations rather than atechnical substitution.The study further shows that customer interaction is expected to shift towards system-basedand data-driven communication, while still requiring human coordination for handlingunexpected situations and maintaining trust. Value creation is enhanced through improvedefficiency, reliability, and vehicle utilisation. Although the core value proposition oftransporting goods from point A to B remains unchanged.In addition, the findings identify regulatory constraints, organisational readiness, andecosystem coordination as the primary barriers to implementation. The results suggest thatautonomous trucks represent a systematic transformation where value creation becomesincreasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, inter-organisational coordination, andinstitutional alignment.