RAIL FREIGHT SERVICES UTILIZATION IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Due to the development of international and domestic trade, the growing important of related freight transport services is increasingly. This paper is intended to discuss the factors affecting the utilization of rail freight services in Malaysia. Three factors were identified which include price, time, location and physical. The data are obtained through a questionnaire which has been structured accordingly and distributed to the respondents. The sample collected were 103 through online questionnaire survey. In this study, the data are analysed using descriptive, normality, reliability, and multiple linear regression. All independent variables such as price, time, location and physical were found to show have significant relationship with the utilization of rail freight services in Malaysia. Although sample collected were from different background, but majority were collected in Western Malaysia, may not represent the entire haulage operator and freight customer in Malaysia. The duration of the study further increases the limitation whereby only 3 to 4 months to complete the entire research. Resources in related fields are limited. The use of rail freight services requires more investment, resources, and costs. Finally, the study's findings should help shifting the preference among haulage companies in the use of rail transportation in an effective, efficiency and environmentally friendly way, to increase the utilization rate of rail freight services in Malaysia. This study increases haulage operator and freight customer knowledge and awareness regarding the adoption of rail freight services. This study also encourages the haulage operator and consumer to use sustainable rail transport services. The paper marks an early contribution to the study on factors that affect the utilization of rail freight services in Malaysia.