LIFE WITHOUT TRUCKS: THE IMPACT OF A TEMPORARY DISRUPTION OF ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT ON A NATIONAL ECONOMY

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan McKinnon
Author(s):  
Jan H. Havenga ◽  
Phillippus P.T. Le Roux ◽  
Zane P. Simpson

Purpose: To develop and apply a methodology to calculate the heavy goods vehicle fleet required to meet South Africa’s projected road freight transport demand within the context of total surface freight transport demand.Methodology: Total freight flows are projected through the gravity modelling of a geographically disaggregated input–output model. Three modal shift scenarios, defined over a 15-year forecast period, combined with road efficiency improvements, inform the heavy goods vehicle fleet for different vehicle types to serve the estimated future road freight transport demand.Findings: The largest portion of South Africa’s high and growing transport demand will remain on long-distance road corridors. The impact can be moderated through the concurrent introduction of domestic intermodal solutions, performance-based standards in road freight transport and improved vehicle utilisation. This presupposes the prioritisation of collaborative initiatives between government, freight owners and logistics service providers.Research limitations: (1) The impact of short-distance urban movements on fleet numbers is not included yet. (2) Seasonality, which negatively influences bi-directional flows, is not taken into account owing to the annual nature of the macroeconomic data. (3) The methodology can be applied to other countries; the input data are however country-specific and findings can therefore not be generalised. (4) The future possibility of a reduction in absolute transport demand through, for example, reshoring have not been modelled yet.Practical implications: Provides impetus for the implementation of domestic intermodal solutions and road freight performance-based standards to mitigate the impact of growing freight transport demand.Societal implications: More efficient freight transport solutions will reduce national logistics costs and freight-related externalities.Originality: Develops a methodology for forecasting the heavy goods vehicle fleet within the context of total freight transport to inform government policy and industry actions.


Author(s):  
Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues ◽  
John Cowburn ◽  
Andrew Potter ◽  
Mohamed Naim ◽  
Anthony Whiteing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a measure that links the causes and consequences of disruptions in freight transport operations. Such a measure is needed to quantify the scale of impact and identify the root causes of disruptions. Design/methodology/approach – In order to develop this measure, an inductive approach was adopted, using four primary case studies to test the measure in an industrial environment. The case studies are from the fast moving consumer goods sector with primary and secondary distribution networks included. The “Extra Distance” measure has been evaluated against established generic criteria that define the quality of any performance measure. Findings – The research indicates good compliance with the criteria used to evaluate the “Extra Distance” measure. The measure is also found to be useful for practitioners who are able to directly relate the measure to their distribution network operations. Research limitations/implications – Further research should see the “Extra Distance” measure further tested in other freight transport operations and industrial sectors. Practical implications – The measure is directly related to a number of causes of uncertainty which helps freight transport managers to quickly identify potential solutions. The “Extra Distance” measure can be used to quantify the effects of disruptions which can occur in road freight transport networks generate unnecessary cost within distribution networks, potentially eroding profit margins which are known to be very low in the road freight transport industry. Originality/value – This paper presents a novel approach to the assessment of the impact caused by uncertainty within freight transport operations.


Author(s):  
Nerissa Govender ◽  
Thokozani P. Mbhele

The underlying port operations in Durban, South Africa, epitomise intense global competitiveness in the intermodal logistics chain. The link between containerisation and theroad transport network can falter as a result of the dynamics of the logistics system. The main objective of the study was to establish the extent of the intermodal challenges of logistical systems on containerisation to which the role of intermodal sea–road freight transportation enhances the logistical competitiveness. It further examined the intermodal relationship on containerised freight between the challenges of containerisation processes and the effects on road freight transport mode. The impact of containerisation on intermodalism, the sea–road freight transport network and the technological attributes of security-based systems and logistical tracking protocols influence the systematic movement of containers on Durban’s public roads.


2018 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 33-47
Author(s):  
Danuta Rucińska ◽  
Małgorzata Kędzior-Laskowska

The aim of the article is to show the relationship between quality and sustainable development of road freight transport. The macro and microeconomic perspective of the possibilities of impacting the greening of transport, which is a development of the sector and entrepreneurs, was presented. Recommendations regarding the development of road freight transport including the EU and Polish transport policy were discussed. The possibilities for the development of road carriers in the conditions of transport greening, with particular emphasis on pro-quality activities were introduced. The analysis of the problem was based on literature studies, statistics were also taken into account. In addition, the results of primary studies regarding the impact of the sustainable development principle and the quality of road freight transport services were presented. The research was conducted on the basis of a questionnaire, and in the interpretation of the results, position, variability and one-dimensional analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used.


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