The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) is leading the project, which aims to construct the three-lane “autoflow route” or corridor in the center of an existing highway.

These boxes are intended to move along the corridor at a pace of around 30 kilometers per hour (18.6 miles per hour), according to government documentation from the research group working on the project. This speed has been carefully determined to strike a balance between efficiency and safety for both goods and individuals sharing the corridor. The blueprints also indicate that automated technology will be used to load and unload the 1.8 by 1.1 by 1.1-meter (5.9 by 3.6 by 3.6-foot) freight boxes, in addition to automating their transportation, thereby minimizing human labor and reducing the risk of accidents during these processes.

The automation component is considered a significant advancement, incorporating sophisticated sensors and artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency. The initial part of the corridor is supposed to be an approximately 100-kilometer (62-mile) length that covers locations close to other large cities that experience significant levels of traffic congestion. This strategic choice aims not only to provide a vital service to overburdened transportation networks but also to demonstrate the effectiveness of this innovative system. The long-term goal, however, is to cover the entire route between Tokyo and Osaka, thereby revolutionizing the way freight is handled across these major urban centers and potentially setting a precedent for similar initiatives worldwide.