The Trailer. A Hidden Champion in Logistics Transformation

Trailers are a cornerstone of modern logistics, yet they are often overlooked. These crucial components are transforming road transport, ensuring efficiency and reliability worldwide—true hidden champions in logistics.

The semi-trailer has become the global standard: it carries the load, guarantees the fulfillment of the transport mission, and ultimately delivers the payload. Through the standardization of vehicle interfaces, we have achieved extremely high interoperability, further enhancing the trailer's efficiency and adaptability.

Diverse Trailer Designs: Meeting Every Transport Need

Trailers are designed for specialized tasks to keep transport efficient and cost-effective. From curtain siders that offer rapid side loading and multimodal versatility to refrigerated trailers ensuring an unbroken cold chain—each trailer type serves a unique purpose. Tankers, tippers, and others are optimized for specific transport needs, whether maximizing volume or weight. These innovations help reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and increase adaptability.

These specialized designs are only as effective as the technology that powers them. Smart systems are transforming these trailers into highly efficient, adaptable components of modern logistics.

Smart Systems, State-of-the-Art Technology

Smart systems enhance trailer value: cargo monitoring, perimeter security, bird's-eye cameras, automatic coupling systems, and semi-autonomous driving functions. AI has made its way into software-defined trailer functions, optimizing operations and data usage. Logistics companies are reducing loading times and improving safety with these state-of-the-art systems, which are already on our roads in varying degrees. But development won't stop here—transformation in transportation can only succeed with trailers, supported by advanced technologies.

How Trailers Are Pushing the Transformation to Sustainable Transport

Heavy-duty transport accounts for 30% of global CO2 emissions in the transport sector. Trailers can help—by 2030, they're required to reduce CO2 emissions by 10% compared to 2025/26 levels in the EU, enforced by significant penalties.

As long as these advantages lower the TCO of the vehicle and increase efficiency for operators, such measures are welcomed everywhere. However, the success of these measures will largely depend on how well we set up frameworks that help innovative systems scale and achieve cost parity with the state of the art.

Scaling Up with Larger Trailers: Boosting Freight Efficiency

Larger trailers allow more freight per truck and driver. In several markets, multiple trailers per truck are common—Scandinavia serves as a leading example for Europe.

Aerodynamic Systems for Greater Efficiency

Aerodynamic systems will help unlock efficiency gains for trailers. Optimizing aerodynamics for commercial vehicles requires a different approach due to their size and function. Optimizing aerodynamics while preserving cargo space demands careful adjustments across components. Fluid dynamics now dictate these interfaces, adding complexity and challenges.

The Future of Propulsion

While aerodynamic systems are key to enhancing efficiency, the next major leap will come from rethinking propulsion systems. The trailer of the future isn’t just following the truck—it’s helping drive it with an electric drive. This shift transforms the vehicle combination into a hybrid concept, redefining the trailer from a passive follower to an active propulsion contributor.

Challenges in Regulation and Moving Forward

And here we are: Regulations, definitions, and standards—all must be rewritten to bring self-propelled trailers to market and ensure safe operation on our roads. Again - Europe aims for a 10% reduction in energy consumption by 2030, specifically from trailers. However, we continue to face regulatory barriers, as trailers were never initially designed for propulsion. For instance, current regulations lack specific guidelines for integrating propulsion systems into trailers, which creates uncertainty for manufacturers.

If we need to redefine electric vehicles and establish new safety standards for powered trailers, we must ensure that we do not regulate technical feasibility out of existence. What we can’t afford is wasting potential due to indecisiveness. The market will try many approaches, leaving no stone unturned if it promises success.

Entrepreneurial risk is essential, as not all solutions will succeed. Market forces will reshape, and new players will emerge. However, what the market ultimately agrees upon will largely depend on the regulatory frameworks in place. Innovation drives competition, and competition fuels progress. Solutions are already on the table or can be implemented when the right frameworks are established.

The Trailer as a Game Changer

The trailer of the future is not just an attachment—it’s a game changer for logistics, sustainability, and efficiency. We need to pave the way for a new generation of commercial vehicles that are smarter, more valuable, and more sustainable. To achieve this, stakeholders—industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators—must collaborate to establish the right conditions for change. The time to act is now, and the trailer is poised to lead the transformation towards smarter, greener transport.

Let's seize this opportunity by driving regulatory change, investing in R&D, and fostering collaboration across all stakeholders—reshaping the future of logistics together and creating a more efficient, sustainable transport industry for everyone.