FR8relay Phase I SBIR Final Report for the Department of Energy
Preliminary research has indicated that FR8relay’s disruptive transportation technology offers a mobility solution that can reduce and eventually eliminate emissions from heavy duty long-haul trucking, while improving truck driver working conditions and providing economic opportunities for economically distressed communities at relay exchange nodes. Long-haul trucking corridors run through large rural (some tribal) areas, many of which are economically distressed, and present an intriguing opportunity for mutually beneficial partnerships. This project aimed better to elucidate rural and tribal perspectives on FR8relay’s proposed mobility solutions. Purpose: This Phase I research and development (R&D) project was designed to test hypotheses surrounding rural and tribal perceptions of FR8relay’s mobility solution benefits and to collect user feedback to inform the technical requirements of its software and operational model. Research Activities: The project centered on five technical objectives: 1) selecting and implementing effective methods to engage local relay trucking stakeholders; 2) developing appropriately prepared questions to gather information regarding the proposed model from local community representatives; 3) administering surveys and analyzing data; 4) sharing findings with the community and collecting feedback; and 5) eliciting follow up information from trucking users and converting data gathered into system design requirements. The study focused on two economically distressed rural and tribal communities, one in Oklahoma and one in Arizona. Participants were recruited from eight different stakeholder groups: truck drivers, CDL students, CDL schools, trucking companies, job seekers, business owners, community leaders, and workforce development entities. Survey and interview questions focused on stakeholder experiences in and attitudes towards the current state of the trucking industry and/or economic and job opportunities in rural/trial communities, and impressions of FR8relay's proposed relay model. Findings: Phase I findings largely validated hypotheses about the benefits of the relay trucking model on both the trucking industry and the driver workforce, and the benefits of Relay Nodal Centers to the local economies. A divergence of opinion surrounding alternative fuel technologies was observed, with community leaders, workforce development entities, job seekers, and business owners generally expressing more interest in alternative fuel technologies, and trucking stakeholders expressing greater doubt as to the reliability of alternative fuel technologies. Navajo respondents overall reported more positive views of alternative fuel technologies than did Oklahoma respondents. In software demonstration and feedback sessions, trucking stakeholders provided important inputs for relevance and accessibility in prototype design. Potential Applications: Relay in trucking has the potential to significantly improve the lives of truck drivers and bring jobs back to small communities along major highways which have seen significant decline in economic opportunities over the last few decades. In addition, relay in trucking can pave the way for mass adoption of renewable energy in transportation by enabling use of electric and hydrogen trucks to be utilized in long-haul freight shipping thereby encouraging investments in related infrastructure development across the country.
- Research Organization:
- Connect Dynamics, Inc. DBA FR8relay
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO)
- Contributing Organization:
- Town of Chouteau, Oklahoma, Nahata Dziil Commission Governance
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0022888
- OSTI ID:
- 2217216
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase I)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-FR8-22888-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Coal-dependent Communities in Transition: Identifying Best Practices to Ensure Equitable Outcomes
National-Tribal Critical Infrastructure Protection: Collaboration for Extraordinary National Security Benefit