On September 29, Mitsui Soko Logistics and T2 began the first joint demonstration in Japan of consolidated cargo transportation combining a cross-docking system with autonomous trucks.
<Mitsui Soko Logistics and T2>
The demonstration experiment is aimed at T2's goal of realizing trunk line transportation using Level 4 autonomous trucks in 2027. It combines this with "cross-docking," where cargo from multiple shippers gathered at a logistics hub is sorted and shipped directly within the hub without being stored as inventory, and then transported in a consolidated manner.
<A mixed cargo transport scheme combining cross-docking and autonomous trucks>
Specifically, cargo from five shippers will be sorted at Mitsui Soko Logistics' two locations, the "Zama Logistics Center" (Kanagawa Prefecture) and the "Saito Akane Logistics Center" (Osaka Prefecture), and then consolidated onto T2 Level 2 autonomous trucks for trunk line transportation between the two locations.
The cargo includes household air conditioners from Daikin Industries, coffee beans from Doutor Coffee, and IT-related products from ELECOM.
By establishing cross-docking capabilities within the two locations, we will verify whether we can increase the utilization rate of autonomous trucks and improve loading efficiency by enabling consolidated loading, allowing them to load the next shipment immediately after arriving in Osaka from Kanagawa.
Furthermore, at the "Saito Akane Logistics Center," which also serves as a distribution center with inventory storage capabilities, stored inventory will be loaded as consolidated cargo, and the ease of coordinating consolidated cargo and the coordination between logistics center operations and the departure and arrival schedules of autonomous trucks will be verified.
By utilizing swap bodies, we will also test whether it is possible to transport some cargo in a "milk run" manner, where one vehicle visits multiple delivery locations, between the automated driving section and the shipper's base.
Amidst growing social issues such as driver shortages, Mitsui Soko Logistics has deepened its collaboration with T2 since investing in T2 in 2023. As a user, Mitsui Soko Logistics was among the first to participate in T2's Level 7 commercial operations, which began in July 2025, and is working to build operations for Level 4 trunk line transportation.
■ Demonstration Overview
Period: September 29th to October 1st, 2025
Location: Outbound = Zama Logistics Center (Kanagawa Prefecture) → Saito Akane Logistics Center (Osaka Prefecture), Return = Saito Akane Logistics Center (Osaka Prefecture) → Zama Logistics Center (Kanagawa Prefecture), and between certain sections of expressways and warehouses of various shippers.
Roles: Mitsui Warehouse Logistics - Cross-docking operations at the logistics center and establishment of collection and delivery operations for shippers' cargo, and coordination of consolidation; T2 - Provision of demonstration vehicles and operation of the above sections; 5 cooperating shippers - Provision of cargo.
Shippers and cargo: Panasonic Operational Excellence, Panasonic AP Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment (commercial freezers and refrigerators, etc.), NatureLab (hair care and body care products, etc.), Daikin Industries (household air conditioners), Doutor Coffee (coffee beans and consumer goods used in stores), ELECOM (IT-related products, etc.)
Verification items: Confirmation of the operational flow and operations of consolidated transport combining cross-docking and autonomous trucks; confirmation of the effectiveness (especially efficiency) and feasibility of the above transport.
