Comparative coal transportation costs: an economic and engineering analysis of truck, belt, rail, barge and coal slurry and pneumatic pipelines. Volume 6. Truck haulage. Final report

Abstract

Among the principal gathering/distribution systems for coal is over-the-road trucking. Also where alternative trunk line modes such as barge or rail links are weak or nonexistent, trucks may, particularly for relatively short line hauls, act as substitutes. Their major application, however, appears to be in connection with smaller mines or coal users particularly where terrain problems are significant. Truck use has increased as rail lines have been abandoned or suffered neglect. Increased emphasis on road building, particularly during the 1950's and 1960's, and improved truck load capacity and efficiency were also important. Coal haulage costs by truck are relatively high. Other things being equal, variations in these costs are largely a function of road conditions, terrain and weather. In this study estimates are made of capital and operating costs of truck haulage. These include a separable estimate of road use costs. A computer model is presented which will enable users to generate their own cost data tailored to their specific needs. Because of the size of the trucks, industry trends, and the increasing cost of gasoline and, possibly, associated taxes, the cost calculations have been made in terms of diesel fuel rather than gasoline. The analysis excludes all taxes. Fuelmore » taxes differ by state while property taxes differ by state and locality. Both also depend on the size of the operation which is determined only after an optimization calculation. Users may wish to add taxes as a lump, or distributed, sum after completing the costing model.« less