Connected Strategy for Hydrogen Value Chain ^ Top ^ 10 and “deadheading” (driving with an empty trailer). Connected technologies paired with a zero-carbon fuel like hydrogen enable both operational and environmental benefits for the trucking industry. The heavy- duty greenhouse gas emissions and fuel efficiency standard is a key federal regulation that is driving climate conscious behaviors. A new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives called the Hydrogen for Trucks Act attempts to expedite the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Additionally voluntary shipment zero targets set by freight customers like Amazon, FedEx, UPS are driving business led consciousness towards environmental performance of trucks. HEAVY DUTY TRUCKING STAKEHOLDER PAIN POINTS There are four key trends in the long-haul trucking industry that are causing majority of the stakeholder pain points. There is a labor shortage and costs are up with marginal transport costs increasing by 18% since 2010 (see Fig 1).4 Fig 2 shows the components of the cost, it can be seen that apart from fuel costs, driver wages are the main component. Since the 1980s, the trucking industry has experienced labor shortages. Much of it attributed to low wages and an aging workforce. Devoid of significant changes to the industry’s business model and talent pool, it may be difficult to see how carriers will attract the 890,000 new drivers that the American Trucking Associations (ATA) estimates will be needed through 2025 to meet rising demand (see Fig 3) 5. Finally, the consequences of accidents are particularly severe, and the industry has seen an increase in crashes leading to fatalities. These types of accidents usually occur from fatigue, sleep deprivation, and distracted driving behaviors with trucking companies seeing an increase in insurance premiums. The case for autonomous driving (connected strategy) is strong with all three elements of digitalization, hydrogen as a fuel decarbonization and infrastructure changes decentralizing. Figure 4 shares key trucking liability and driver safety metrics. Driverless technology is positioned to solve several of the safety inciodents ailing the trucking industry.