Daio Paper and PALTAC Join T2 Autonomous Truck Operations in Japan

Daio Paper Corporation and PALTAC Corporation will participate as users in Japan’s first commercial operation of autonomous trucks for regular freight transportation, operated by T2 Corporation, beginning May 2026.

According to the companies, the initiative marks the first full-scale utilization of autonomous trucks in Japan’s paper industry.

Daio Paper and PALTAC previously conducted four demonstration runs between July 2025 and April 2026 using Level 2 autonomous trucks developed by T2. The trials involved transporting Elleair products, including disposable diapers, on sections of expressways between the Kanto and Kansai regions.

The companies said the demonstrations confirmed that T2’s autonomous trucks could maintain transportation quality and safety standards equivalent to existing operations, leading to an agreement to participate in commercial operations.

Starting May 28, 2026, Level 2 autonomous trucks will regularly transport Elleair products over a route of approximately 520 kilometers between Daio Paper’s Nishiyodogawa distribution center in Osaka and PALTAC’s RDC Yokohama facility in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture.

The project is intended to address transportation capacity shortages caused by the ongoing lack of truck drivers in Japan.

Daio Paper and PALTAC said they will also consider participating in future trunk-line transportation services using Level 4 autonomous trucks, which T2 aims to begin operating in fiscal year 2027 or later.

Daio Paper stated that the initiative aligns with its management philosophy of “Weaving a gentle future for people all over the world” and its focus on hygiene, quality of life, and environmental regeneration. The company added that it will continue working with PALTAC and T2 to identify operational issues, conduct further verification, and support the development of a sustainable logistics system through autonomous driving technologies.