2026/03/24
Nippon Express Co., Ltd.
ADVICS CO., LTD.
SmartDrive Co., Ltd.
Nippon Express Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President Director: Shinjiro Takezoe; hereinafter "Nippon ADVICS"), ADVICS CO., LTD. (Head office: Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture; President and Director: Akira Akiyama; hereinafter "Advics"), and SmartDrive Inc. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Director: Takeshi Kitagawa; hereinafter "SmartDrive") have begun a demonstration experiment (hereinafter, this demonstration experiment) of a technology that digitizes and visualizes the load weight of truck vehicles based on their actual weight.
In this demonstration experiment, Nippon Express will combine its vehicles with ADVICS' vehicle weight estimation technology and SmartDrive's mobility data platform to visualize the "actual weight-based load capacity," which has been difficult to ascertain until now.
■ Background and purpose
In the logistics industry, the shortage of transportation capacity due to the "2024 problem" has become a major challenge, making it urgent to improve the efficiency of the entire supply chain. Furthermore, under the revised Logistics Efficiency Act (Act on Promotion of Integration and Efficiency of Distribution Operations), certain businesses are required to work towards achieving a KPI of "loading efficiency (*1) of 44% or more," increasing the need to accurately understand the actual state of transportation.
However, current loading rates (*2) are generally calculated based on declared delivery slips, which presents challenges such as discrepancies with actual weight and difficulty in identifying unprofitable routes with low loading rates (*2). Furthermore, the lack of visibility into the operational efficiency of company-owned vehicles increases the likelihood of increased burdens such as long-distance transport to subcontractors and waiting times for loading and unloading.
To address these challenges, the three companies will collaborate for the following purposes and conduct a Proof of Concept (PoC) (*3) for technical verification and practical application.
■ Overview of this demonstration experiment
SmartDrive's in-vehicle devices will acquire driving data (such as vehicle speed and forward/reverse acceleration), which will then be analyzed on the platform using a technology developed by ADVICS that estimates vehicle weight based on driving data. The results of this analysis will be visualized, showing the estimated load capacity based on the actual weight of each vehicle. In this demonstration experiment, we will verify whether this data can be used for Nippon Express's operational management and business decision-making.
● Period: November 2025 to the end of March 2026 (tentative) *Possibility of extension
● Target vehicles: Two large trucks (gross vehicle weight exceeding 20 tons) under the jurisdiction of Nippon Express's Tokyo branch (Koto Ward, Tokyo).
● Verification details:
○ Verification of the accuracy of load weight estimation based on vehicle behavior data (detection of fluctuations at the ton level)
○ Visualization through data reports and verification of usability by field staff and management.
○ Verification of the screening function for routes with low loading efficiency (*1) and overloading.
■ Expected effects of this initiative
- Responding to the revised Logistics Efficiency Act and supporting KPI achievement
● This allows for data measurement based on actual weight rather than on invoices, in relation to the loading efficiency KPI (*1) set by the government. This makes it possible to objectively understand the current figures and implement concrete improvement measures. - Supply chain transformation and overall optimization
● This will enable the identification and improvement of unprofitable routes with low load factors (*2), and the determination of the possibility of joint transportation based on data. By promoting the efficient operation of our own vehicles, we will reduce unreasonable requests for outsourced transportation (long distance, long hours, etc.) and contribute to the realization of ethical logistics. - Accurate determination of whether or not a shipper falls under the category of "specific shipper"
● Whether or not a shipper qualifies as a "specified shipper" with an annual handling volume of 90,000 tons or more is an important indicator for shippers who will likely be required to improve their logistics under the revised Logistics Efficiency Act. By utilizing this service, it becomes possible to make a judgment based on actual weight rather than on declared delivery slips. - Accurate understanding of logistics conditions
● We will grasp the "true reality" of logistics, such as the discrepancy between "weight on the invoice" and "actual weight," which has not been visible through national or administrative statistical data alone, and contribute to the formulation of more effective policies.
■ Future Outlook
Based on the data and insights gained through this demonstration experiment, we will verify improvements in estimation accuracy and the usefulness of the reports. From April 2026 onwards, we will consider expanding the target area and the number of vehicles, and in the future, we aim to fully implement and deploy this as a solution that contributes to solving industry-wide challenges.
*1 Loading efficiency: An indicator that shows how efficiently goods were transported over the entire round trip (including empty travel) (a concept that includes the vehicle utilization rate). Emphasis is placed on whether goods are transported without waste over the "entire operation," and it is often used from the perspective of cost reduction and efficient vehicle dispatching.
*2 Loading ratio: The ratio of the actual weight and volume of cargo loaded to the truck's maximum capacity (full load). This is often used in the context of optimizing loading methods and increasing load capacity.
*3 PoC: Abbreviation for Proof of Concept. This refers to "proof of concept," where a simplified version of a service or product is created and used in practice, and this process is repeated to concretely verify whether the hypothesis is feasible.
[Examples of joint development services between smart drives and ADVICS]
Combining ADVICS braking technology with smart drive development technology, the service for maintenance Plant, gas stations, and car dealerships is scheduled to be released this spring. By visualizing the remaining amount of brake pads in passenger cars and other vehicles through image diagnosis using a dedicated handheld camera, and by creating and providing reports based on objective evidence for car owners, it contributes to improving work efficiency and creating sales opportunities.
(1st) Brake pad remaining level visualization service "BRAKEPAD SCAN powered by ADVICS"
In addition, please check the following for service development results through co-creation with various companies.
https://smartdrive.co.jp/ao/
■Company Overview
Company name: Nippon Express Co., Ltd.
President and Representative Director: Shinjiro Takezoe
Location: 2 Kanda Izumicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://www.nittsu.co.jp/
Company name: ADVICS CO., LTD.
President Director: Akira Akiyama
Location: 2-1 Showa-cho, Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture
URL: https://www.advics.co.jp/
Company Name: SmartDrive Co., Ltd.
Representative Director: Retsu Kitagawa
Location: Hibiya Park Front 19F, 2-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://smartdrive.co.jp/ Contact: Business Development Division (bizdev@smartdrive.co.jp)
-Media Inquiries Regarding This Matter-
NIPPON EXPRESS Holdings Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communications Department
Email: nxhd-pr@nipponexpress.com
TEL: 03-5801-1212
ADVICS CO., LTD.
Kamiya, Corporate Planning Dept.
Email: kosuke_01_kamiya@mail.advics.co.jp
TEL: 050-5235-8590
SmartDrive Co., Ltd.
Marketing Department, Public Relations Representative: Sato
Email: pr@smartdrive.co.jp
TEL: 070-3250-4163