MODI: From Real-Life Demonstrations to Building the Ecosystem for Future CCAM Deployment in Logistics
MODI – A leap towards SAE L4 automated driving features
The project focuses on one of the most promising early deployment areas for connected and automated mobility: logistics. Freight operations often rely on repeated routes, structured environments, terminals, ports, hubs and corridor-based flows. These conditions make logistics a strong testing ground for highly automated freight vehicles and for the wider ecosystem needed to enable their safe and scalable deployment.
MODI goes beyond testing automated driving systems in isolation. It investigates how SAE Level 4 freight vehicles interact with physical and digital infrastructure (PDI), connectivity, C-ITS services, V2X communication, HD maps, remote supervision, logistics processes, public authorities, business models and regulation. In doing so, the project provides practical evidence on what is required to move from pilots towards future deployment.
Vehicle providers in MODI (DAF, Einride, VOLVO)
Real-life demonstrations across Europe
MODI is built around four operational use cases in key logistics environments, and one CCAM corridor use case focused on infrastructure readiness, data collection and cross-border deployment conditions. Together, they provide a European evidence base for automated freight transport in ports, terminals, public roads, logistics hubs and international corridors.
In Use Case Netherlands, MODI has explored automated drayage and port operations in and around the Port of Rotterdam, including vehicle interaction with terminal processes, connected infrastructure and operational control systems. This use case highlights that automated port logistics depends not only on the vehicle, but also on access control, mission management, data exchange, terminal interfaces and coordination between infrastructure actors, logistics providers and vehicle manufacturers.
In Use Case Germany, the project demonstrated automated and connected freight solutions in Hamburg, including automated motorway merging and C-ITS services for urban logistics. These demonstrations addressed mixed traffic, vulnerable road users, traffic light optimisation, roadworks warnings and the role of digital infrastructure in supporting safer manoeuvres and more predictable freight operations.
In Use Case Sweden, MODI reached one of its most visible milestones with the demonstration of a cabless, electric, autonomous vehicle in real logistics operations. The use case combined automated driving with remote supervision, autonomous loading and unloading, access control and hands-free charging. This showed that the value of automation depends on the integration of the full logistics process, not only on the vehicle’s Automated Driving System (ADS).
In Use Case Norway, the project tested automated freight operations on a public-road route connecting a warehouse and a terminal, while also addressing the regulatory and operational complexity of cross-border logistics. A major milestone was the successful fully automated border crossing and customs clearance at the Ørje border crossing, without a human driver onboard, demonstrating how vehicle automation, digital procedures and public authorities must work together to enable future automated freight transport.
The fifth use case, the MODI CCAM corridor from Rotterdam to Oslo, assessed physical and digital infrastructure readiness across countries and logistics environments. This included connectivity coverage, signage, road geometry, data availability, HD mapping needs, digital services and cross-border continuity. The corridor work provides important input for future European large-scale CCAM demonstrations and cross-border testbeds.
Real demonstration activities across use cases within the Rotterdam-Oslo corridor
Key lessons for CCAM freight deployment
MODI’s demonstrations confirm that automated freight transport is technically feasible in several logistics environments. However, the project also shows that deployment is not only a vehicle challenge. It is a system-level challenge.
One of MODI’s main findings is that automated driving alone does not create value. Freight automation also requires loading and unloading processes, charging, gate access, customs procedures, ETA integration, digital documentation, supervision concepts and data exchange. If these elements remain fragmented or manual, automation risks creating new bottlenecks instead of solving existing ones.
A second lesson is that deployment potential depends strongly on the Operational Design Domain (ODD). The strongest early opportunities are likely to emerge in structured environments such as ports, terminals, warehouses, yards and predictable hub-to-hub routes, where traffic interactions and operating conditions can be better controlled. More complex public-road and cross-border operations will require further alignment of infrastructure, regulation, connectivity, data interfaces and operational procedures.
MODI also shows that automation changes human work rather than eliminating it. Remote operators, logistics personnel, supervisors and infrastructure actors remain essential. Their roles evolve towards monitoring, mission dispatch, exception handling, approval of critical manoeuvres, cargo and charging supervision, and coordination with terminal or warehouse staff.
Finally, MODI highlights the central role of digital infrastructure. Machine-readable traffic rules, reliable connectivity, HD maps, standardised interfaces, digital documentation and trusted data sharing are key enablers for the deployment of L4 automated freight transport. For automated logistics to scale, vehicles, infrastructure, control towers, logistics platforms and public authorities must be able to exchange reliable and interoperable information.
From pilots to deployment-ready recommendations
As the project approaches its final phase, MODI is consolidating its findings into a Book of Recommendations. This legacy output translates lessons from the demonstrations into practical guidance for policymakers, industry, infrastructure operators, logistics stakeholders and regulators.
The recommendations address several core deployment areas:
- Physical infrastructure, including CCAM-ready assessment criteria for corridors, ports, terminals and logistics hubs.
- Digital infrastructure, including machine-readable traffic rules, HD maps, positioning, connectivity, data quality and network redundancy.
- Best practices for L4 freight automation, including early deployment on predictable routes with clearly defined ODDs.
- Interoperability and standardisation, including interfaces between vehicles, infrastructure, remote operation systems, terminals and logistics platforms.
- Regulation, including harmonised permit processes, cross-border safety assessment and clearer allocation of liability and responsibilities.
These recommendations reflect a central lesson from MODI: large-scale automated freight deployment cannot rely on isolated innovations. It requires a coordinated ecosystem in which vehicles, infrastructure, regulations, digital services, logistics processes and business models evolve together.
MODI also contributes directly to Europe’s next generation of CCAM initiatives, including future large-scale demonstrations, cross-border testbeds, ECAVA, EURIAS and emerging industrial roadmaps for connected and automated vehicles. Its results provide evidence on where automation can deliver value, which gaps remain, and how Europe can move towards deployment while maintaining safety, interoperability and competitiveness.
Business value: orchestration, predictability and productivity
MODI’s business model work points to a clear conclusion: vehicle automation does not create value by itself. Economic viability depends on orchestration, predictability and productivity.
Automated freight services need high utilisation, predictable demand, coordinated operations, efficient charging, integrated terminal and warehouse processes, and appropriate remote supervision models. In practical terms, factors such as duty cycle, vehicle availability, vehicle-to-operator ratio, exception management and corridor demand are as important as the cost of the vehicle itself.
This means that early deployment is likely to focus on high-volume, repeatable freight flows where the ODD is clear and the operational value is easy to demonstrate. Ports, terminals, warehouse-to-warehouse shuttles and hub-to-hub corridors are therefore among the most promising first markets for automated freight deployment.
MODI delegation at EUCAD 2025
Building the ecosystem for future deployment
MODI has demonstrated the importance of collaboration across the full CCAM freight ecosystem. The project brings together vehicle manufacturers, technology providers, road authorities, port and terminal operators, logistics companies, research organisations, networks and public bodies.
This ecosystem approach is essential because automated freight deployment involves many interdependent roles. A road authority may provide digital traffic rules and infrastructure data; a vehicle manufacturer may provide the ADS; a logistics operator may define service requirements; a terminal operator may manage access and handling processes; and a remote operator may supervise the mission.
No single actor can solve the deployment challenge alone. MODI’s public events, demonstrations, stakeholder workshops and expert discussions have helped build a shared understanding of what is needed to move from technology demonstration to practical deployment.
Join MODI in Antwerp-Bruges
The MODI consortium will present its main results, lessons learned and recommendations during the MODI Final Event, taking place at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges on 15 September 2026.
On 16 September 2026, MODI will also be present with its own stand and demonstrations within the Autonomous Summit, continuing the discussion on how automated freight transport can support the future of European logistics.
More information about the final event, registration and the latest project updates is available on the MODI website: https://modiproject.eu/
