The transport sector has witnessed significant changes with the adoption of electrification and automation. One such change has been the implementation of autonomous trucks. Despite being a solution to tackle existing sector challenges, the attention paid to the potential for automating loading and unloading (LUL) of autonomous trucks at various nodes in the system such as warehouses, terminals and loading docks has been limited. The LUL process serves as a crucial interface between the autonomous trucks and nodes and the impact of this interface on a wider system level remains insufficiently explored. Existing literature predominantly concentrates on evaluating the performance of individual components of automated systems, such as autonomous transport or automated LUL. Drawing from observations gathered during a test run within an ongoing research and development project, this study assesses the performance potential for automating LUL operations using an AGV handling standard pallets with self-driving trucks. The system context considered encompasses operations from factory loading docks to warehouse receiving points, all located within a confined area. 

The study is based on research using a mixed method case study. The case is a part of a project involving a major manufacturing company and its automated LUL operations and autonomous transport. The case team consists of experts in transport, cargo securing, and materials handling. The study uses both quantitative data for capturing performance values and qualitative data for understanding the influence of interfaces on the overall system.  

Results from the test run comprise the assessment of performance potential in terms of time efficiency, cost, and safety, of automated LUL operation together with autonomous trucks. The result also comprises identifying the necessities of the LUL system considering its connections to the wider system involving autonomous truck and the upstream/downstream material flow system. Outcomes indicate that efficiency alone may not justify the implementation of LUL automation, but it may be motivated if resulting values in the wider transport system can be exploited. This leads to a discussion on potential benefits in the wider system and the prerequisites that need to be at place to realize such benefits.