REAL TIME TRAFFIC INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR FREIGHT MANAGEMENT

VicRoads' Freight Management System is specifically aimed at providing freight operators and other groups with real time traffic information to assist them in making decisions about route selection and scheduling. The system will operate by collecting traffic data from 'tagged' vehicles and other VicRoads Urban Traffic Management System facilities. This data is processed to provide real time traffic information about travel times, traffic congestion levels, accidents and incidents. Service providers will be able to obtain access to the real time data via a secure external interface. This paper provides an overview of the operation of the Freight Management System and examines: (1) the key components of the system; (2) its relationship with other VicRoads real time systems; (3) the outcomes of the joint VicRoads/Victorian Road Transport Association Freight Industry Workshop; (4) likely outputs of the system; and (5) the status of the system's implementation. The provision of traffic related information, particularly real time information, not only has the potential to be a commercially viable service, but has wider social and community benefits. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see IRRD abstract no. 899454.