HERE Technologies technology lead Daniel Antonello said hazard-warning systems and intelligent speed assistance were emerging as essential tools for trucks operating beyond urban networks.
Rural speed signage is often inconsistent, damaged or obscured, leaving drivers without a reliable reference.
“Maps and location intelligence can see far beyond what sensors can,” Mr Antonello said.
“By combining speed-limit data with advanced location technology, drivers benefit from greater accuracy and timely alerts when they’re travelling above the designated limit.”
Mr Antonello said rural roads were often narrow, ageing or formed for temporary use by industries such as forestry, yet still appeared on maps as viable options for trucks.
“By factoring these roads into map making, truckers can be guided toward safer, better-maintained routes,” he said.
“It’s an important part of reducing risk and improving efficiency.”
In the cab, fatigue monitoring remains a priority. Long-haul truck drivers frequently travel for days with limited opportunities to rest, and the risks are exacerbated in isolation, where a breakdown in alertness can go unnoticed.
He said driver-facing cameras, steering-wheel sensors and AI-based monitoring of eye movement and head position are now being used to detect fatigue in real time.
Advanced driver-assist systems are also adapting to rural conditions. Blind-spot detection can widen its field of view to account for larger truck blind spots and varied terrain.
Mr Antonello pointed to examples in NSW and New Zealand, where telematics are being used to monitor driver behaviour, manage fatigue and improve compliance, resulting in measurable safety gains.
But he said technology cannot work alone.
More frequent and better-designed rest stops, upgraded rural road surfaces and consistent signage — particularly around animal crossings, speed limits and sharp bends — remain core components of safer regional freight routes.
