Vehicle Platooning

Vehicle platooning is the linking of two or more vehicles in a convoy using wireless communications and sensor technology.

Studies show that platooning significantly reduces the drag that each vehicle experiences, resulting in less fuel consumption, greater fuel efficiency, and less pollution. From a safety standpoint, the constant monitoring and updates among the vehicles in the platoon, estimated at 50 times per second, reduces the impact among vehicles in case of a crash and provides reaction times much faster than humans.

A platoon links two or more vehicles in a convoy.

Yes. A licensed driver is always steering and controlling each vehicle in the convoy. By law, if the platoon includes commercial motor vehicles, each drivers must have a valid commercial driver license (CDL).

Yes. Tennessee law permits vehicle platooning on all Tennessee roads.

Yes. Motorists wanting to operate a platoon within the state must provide notification to TDOT and the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security. Notification must include a plan for the general operation of the platoon.

Other drivers may not know they traveling near a platoon; however, platooning vehicles may be marked with signage to indicate they are potentially traveling together.

Platoon trucks will be equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control, which results in automatic braking. The truck following the cut-in car will adjust to a safe following distance. Studies have shown that cut-ins and cut-offs might even be reduced since the platooning trucks are traveling more closely.

Each vehicle within the convoy has a licensed driver behind the wheel. Drivers are always steering and controlling the vehicles. If an incident occurs, the drivers will be able react accordingly.

Studies have shown that platooning leads to a reduction in the amount of space used by a number of vehicles on a highway. Thus, more vehicles can use the highway without traffic congestion.