CTS CTS Transportation Technology & Route Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) 214 used for in transportation?
- Sending purchase orders to suppliers
- Transmitting shipment status updates and transportation carrier shipment status messages (Correct answer)
- Filing customs declarations electronically
- Submitting freight invoices for payment
Correct answer: Transmitting shipment status updates and transportation carrier shipment status messages
EDI 214 is the Transportation Carrier Shipment Status Message transaction set used to transmit shipment tracking and status updates between trading partners.
Question 2: Which fuel efficiency technology uses aerodynamic panels and fairings on trailers to reduce drag, typically saving 5–7% in fuel consumption?
- Automatic tire inflation systems
- Trailer skirts and nose cones (aerodynamic fairings) (Correct answer)
- Diesel particulate filters
- Idle reduction APUs
Correct answer: Trailer skirts and nose cones (aerodynamic fairings)
Trailer side skirts and aerodynamic nose cones reduce turbulent airflow under and around the trailer, cutting aerodynamic drag and improving fuel efficiency by 5–7%.
Question 3: In the context of Autonomous Vehicles (AV) in trucking, what does 'Level 4 autonomy' (SAE definition) mean?
- The vehicle requires constant human steering input
- The system can perform all driving tasks in specific conditions without human intervention (Correct answer)
- The driver must be alert at all times to take control
- Adaptive cruise control only with no steering automation
Correct answer: The system can perform all driving tasks in specific conditions without human intervention
SAE Level 4 is high automation where the vehicle can perform all driving tasks within a defined operational domain without human intervention, though a human may still be present.
Question 4: A shipper uses a platform that connects them directly to available carrier capacity without a human broker intermediating. This technology is called a:
- Load board with broker intermediary
- Digital freight matching (DFM) platform (Correct answer)
- Paper-based spot market
- Dedicated contract carriage agreement
Correct answer: Digital freight matching (DFM) platform
Digital freight matching platforms use algorithms to directly connect shippers with available carriers in real time, reducing brokerage friction and improving capacity utilization.
Question 5: What does 'predictive maintenance' in fleet management use to determine when a vehicle component is likely to fail?
- Fixed mileage intervals regardless of vehicle usage patterns
- Sensor data and machine learning models to forecast component wear (Correct answer)
- Driver-reported observations only
- Manufacturer-recommended replacement schedules alone
Correct answer: Sensor data and machine learning models to forecast component wear
Predictive maintenance analyzes real-time sensor data (vibration, temperature, oil quality) using machine learning to predict failures before they occur, reducing unplanned downtime.
Question 6: Which routing constraint must be respected when planning delivery routes for temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals?
- Minimum payload weight per stop
- Time-temperature exposure limits and cold chain integrity windows (Correct answer)
- Maximum number of left turns per route
- Driver union break schedules only
Correct answer: Time-temperature exposure limits and cold chain integrity windows
Cold chain pharmaceutical routing must ensure time-temperature integrity is maintained throughout delivery, requiring strict time windows and temperature monitoring at every stop.
CTS CTS Transportation Technology & Route Planning 2
What is Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) 214 used for in transportation?