Cenex and the International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation (iC4DTI) have launched a new feasibility study examining the potential for autonomous freight services within the Teesside Freeport. The project forms part of the UK Government’s Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder programme.
Project TACTIC, short for Teesside Autonomous Corridor for Trade Integration and Clearance, is a six-month study led by iC4DTI with Cenex acting as project partner. The initiative aims to develop an investment-ready business case for a driver-out Connected Automated Mobility freight service operating between Teesport and Teesside International Airport.
The study focuses on how automated freight vehicles could support trade flows across Teesside’s industrial and logistics infrastructure. The region includes three major secure estates: Teesside International Airport, Teesworks and Wilton International. Together, the sites provide a large operational area that could support initial off-highway deployments before any future expansion onto public road corridors such as the A66.
Nick Davies, Director of iC4DTI, said: “If successful, TACTIC will show both industry and government the benefits that can flow from trade digitalisation, and how this can contribute to the growth agenda everyone is prioritising.”
A key element of the study is the development of a digital trade and compliance model for freight operations. Current customs and safety procedures can create delays and congestion within logistics networks. TACTIC will assess whether trusted, real-time vehicle data can be integrated with digital trade documentation to streamline these processes.
The proposed system would combine data including vehicle location, weight information and secure seal verification with digital compliance checks. The intention is for customs and safety clearances to be processed while vehicles are in transit, reducing waiting times on arrival and improving reliability for time-sensitive freight movements.
The project will also assess the commercial and operational requirements for running autonomous freight services without onboard safety drivers. This includes defining operational responsibilities, reviewing technology and remote control requirements, and identifying the regulatory and insurance frameworks needed to support deployment.
Cenex will lead the project’s economic analysis, examining operational costs, revenue opportunities and the wider economic implications of more predictable freight movements across the region.
Steve Carroll, Head of Research and Technical Services at Cenex, said: “identifying early market opportunities and developing positive business cases is an essential part of accelerating CAM deployments in the UK.”
The study will also consider opportunities for UK-based suppliers involved in areas such as secure sensors, digital connectivity and control software. By linking autonomous vehicle operations with digital trade systems, the project aims to assess whether the UK could establish an early position in automated freight services.
Connected and automated mobility technologies are receiving increasing attention as governments and industry seek to improve logistics efficiency, address labour shortages and reduce delays within supply chains. Freight transport is also under pressure to improve operational efficiency as ports and logistics operators manage growing volumes of trade and increasingly time-sensitive deliveries.
TACTIC is funded through the UK Government’s CAM Pathfinder programme, delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic. The programme supports feasibility studies designed to prepare connected and automated mobility technologies for near-commercial deployment.
Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said: “CAM solutions have the potential to unlock new business opportunities and wider economic growth. Through the CAM Pathfinder programme, these feasibility studies will help to articulate the impact that market ready CAM technologies can have in all corners of the country.
“Along with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and Innovate UK, we are excited to start working with the organisations delivering each of the eight projects to further develop their businesses cases, demonstrate the commerciality of their solutions and paint a clearer picture of the viable CAM solutions coming down the road.”
