Digital Highways: Russia Accelerates Toward Autonomous Freight Corridors

Russia’s state road operator is building a high-tech freight corridor to test self-driving trucks by 2026, turning smart infrastructure from concept to daily practice.

At the Road Initiatives Forum, Russia’s state-owned highway company Avtodor unveiled a sweeping vision for the future of logistics and mobility. At the heart of its strategy are intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and unmanned logistics corridors equipped with hundreds of cameras, vehicle detectors, AI-powered digital signage, and environmental sensors.

By 2026, self-driving freight trucks are expected to run the route from Kazan to St. Petersburg as part of a pilot that aims to become standard practice. Avtodor plans to scale the system nationwide and develop unified standards for smart road infrastructure.

Victoria Erkenova, Deputy Chair of Avtodor’s ITS board, shared early results from technology pilots: a 20% drop in accidents, 50% fewer severe injuries, 15% faster trip times, and a 35% cut in emissions.

The initiative also includes deep integration with the national ERA-GLONASS emergency response system, enabling predictive accident modeling and real-time incident management.

With autonomous technologies, automated tolling, and intelligent traffic management entering the mainstream, Russia’s transportation sector is rapidly digitizing—and redefining how freight moves across the country.