Large Transportation Company Research Articles

Action plan proposal to obtain triple certification in a natural gas transportation company

Goal: for large gas transportation companies, it is of strategic relevance to be compliant with ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001 certifications, acknowledging their Integrated Management System (IMS). Based on this context, the purpose of this study was to propose an action plan to obtain triple certification for a Brazilian natural gas transportation company. Design / Methodology / Approach: the methodology comprised research of applied nature, exploratory and descriptive objectives, qualitative approach, with a single case study investigation strategy, and data collected through triangulation, combining documents, interviews, and field observation. Results: First, an action plan, which enabled the company to achieve triple certification in ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001 standards. Second, a table correlating seventeen IMS elements with technical and academic literature, and guidance documents of the studied company, making it easier to visualize interdependencies. Limitations of the investigation: The main one is the generalization limit of the conclusions, models or theories developed from a single case study, used in this work. These limitations do not reduce the importance of the results found, since the proposed action plan enabled the natural gas transportation company to obtain the desired triple certification. Practical implications: the proposed action plan may support other companies to achieve triple certification. Originality / Value: no research has been identified in the international literature that deals with triple certification for companies operating in the natural gas transportation market, specifically, the correlation of IMS elements with literature references and guidance documents of the studied company.

Evaluation of the pharmacoeconomical effectiveness of triple therapy of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in employees at the large transport company

Evaluation of the pharmacoeconomical effectiveness of triple therapy of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in employees at the large transport company

ОСОБЕННОСТИ МАРКЕТИНГОВОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ НА РЫНКЕ ТРАНСПОРТНО-ЛОГИСТИЧЕСКИХ УСЛУГ

The work demonstrates the specifics of the activities of large transport and logistics companies, which determines the distinctive features of their marketing policy. Despite the fact that classical marketing tools have relatively low effectiveness in this market because logistics operators and their key customers prefer long-term relationships, in the current conditions the role of marketing is increasing. This is due to the transfor-mation of the global logistics market and the release of niches in it, as well as the need to attract small customers. The main directions of marketing activities in the market of transport and logistics services are demon-strated.

An Exploratory Investigation of Cognitive Mapping for Analyzing Needs in UX Design

Needs analysis is a major concern in innovation projects both for organizations pursuing business objectives and for the users whose needs should be satisfied. Different needs analysis methods can be used, depending on the scope and complexity of the project. However, not all the existing methods provide efficient decision-making support for designers whose task is to categorize and prioritize the needs. The aim of this article is to explore the application of cognitive mapping as a needs analysis method that will more efficiently analyze the nature of the needs and their interrelations. This analysis will provide a different perspective for understanding needs and, thus, contribute to decision making and prioritization. To this end, the proposed method was tested with the UX team of a large established North American transportation company. The feedback from the multiple groups involved in needs analysis indicated that the need mapping technique was perceived as useful and could be applied as a decision support.

Building regression models of city buses’ fuel consumption

This study is justified by the need to develop route fuel consumption norms for city buses in operation based on the results of the analysis of statistical data on the operation of rolling stock, under weather conditions and the age structure of the bus fleet. At the same time, current modifications of buses and factors affecting their fuel consumption are selected. The criteria for the collection and processing of statistical data in a large city are given, taking into account the capabilities of their modern information systems. The preliminary analysis of the obtained statistical data, the subsequent nonlinear transformation of factors and the component analysis of age indicators is carried out in order to improve the quality of mathematical models of fuel consumption. Based on the obtained regression models, fuel consumption norms are determined for the routes of a large bus transport company for the forecast period. Keywords: rolling stock, city bus, age structure, weather conditions, fuel consumption, regression models

Modern problems of operation of gas-cylinder cars running on compressed natural gas

The article discusses and summarizes the main problems that arise during the operation, maintenance and repair of gas-cylinder cars using compressed natural gas as fuel. The analytical study is based on the experience of a large transport company operating gas-powered transport. Examples of successful solutions to operational issues and issues that require detailed study, technically sound solutions are given. Attention is focused on the pressing problems of enterprises operating gas-cylinder cars. Keywords: gas cylinder car, compressed natural gas, automobile gas-filling compressor station, gas cylinder equipment

When does role ambiguity escalate into diminished change-oriented organizational citizenship behavior?

This research investigates how employees’ experience of role ambiguity may dampen their change-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), a harmful process that might be buffered by employees’ access to relevant resources, stemming from their work (work passion), coworkers (peer harmony), or employing organization (affective commitment). If the hardships induced by unclear job descriptions can be subdued by these complementary, energy-enhancing resources, it becomes less likely that employees respond to resource-draining job conditions by halting extra-role work activities. Survey data collected in a large transportation company offer empirical support for these mitigating effects. As a primary conclusion, this study reveals that organizations that cannot eliminate role ambiguity completely for employees still can guarantee a certain degree of change-oriented OCB, by nurturing various resources that generate positive emotional energy among employees.

Neutrosophic CEBOM-MACONT model for sustainable management of end-of-life tires

Management of end-of-life tires (ELTs) has evolved into an important sustainability requirement that should follow circular economy principles. It is increasingly important to find environmentally-friendly and cost-effective solutions for ELT management, particularly in the context of large freight transportation companies. Selecting the most sustainable solution from the set of available ELT management strategies, such as retreading, recycling, energy recovery, and landfilling, presents a decision-making challenge for authorities. This study aims to introduce a practical evaluation framework comprised of strategy alternatives and key decision-making criteria to support transportation companies in managing ELT flows. Also, the research introduces an advanced two-stage neutrosophic decision support model to solve the addressed problem and reveal the most sustainable strategy. The model is based on the integration of the cross-entropy-based optimization model (CEBOM) method and mixed aggregation by comprehensive normalization technique (MACONT) under the type-2 neutrosophic number (T2NN) environment. Prominent features of T2NN-CEBOM are hybrid weighting sub-framework and processing controllability. Distinguished characteristics of T2NN-MACONT are average referencing, triple-normalization support, modeling of risk attitude behavior, adjustable ordering schemes, and an advanced scoring system. The real-life study of one of the largest German freight transportation companies that operates along an important European transit route offers practical insights for decision-makers when evaluating ELT management strategies. The research findings show that retreading is the most sustainable solution. The eight sensitivity analyses confirm the high robustness of the introduced decision-support model. The comparative analysis reveals the superiority of T2NN-CEBOM-MACONT for employment in practical settings.

Productivity drivers of infrastructure companies: Network industries utilizing economies of scale in the digital era

AbstractWhat drives the productivity dynamics of infrastructure companies? Using a panel of firms in 14 countries, we study total factor productivity (TFP) enhancers of utility and network services companies. We find that moving TFP closer to the technological frontier drives productivity growth at higher speeds in Asian countries than in European countries. We also find that financial leverage exerts a positive effect on TFP growth for larger infrastructure firms and that more financially developed countries utilize economies of scale through better use of financial resources. Large utility and transportation companies display a higher rate of TFP growth, indicating that a competition policy to encourage M&As would be prudent for the utility/transportation sectors to maximize economies of scale. In contrast, we find diseconomies of scale for energy companies in some countries. Moreover, young network firms improve TFP growth faster than their peers in countries with fewer product market regulations. Therefore, policies should remove entry barriers while facilitating the departure of old and low‐productivity firms from network markets. Finally, policymakers should offer well‐targeted fiscal incentives for intangible investments to boost TFP because the accumulation of intangible assets such as digital technology promotes more scale economies through network effects.

Politiki vremeni, logistika i neravenstva v sovremennykh rossiyskikh gruzoperevozkakh

Based on mobile ethnography among long-distance truckers, the paper explores the temporal dimensions of their everyday work. In the neoliberal Russian trucking industry, large transport companies and their clients prioritize ‘efficient’ logistics, relying on computational calculations and an urge to keep the goods moving. Accordingly, corporate temporal policies are shaped by clock time logic. However, the reality of truckers’ everyday mobility is filled with contextual factors such as traffic jams, time zone changes, and weather conditions that disrupt the clock time logic. The clash between the smooth temporal politics of logistics and the unpredictable experiences of truckers leads to conflicts, requiring drivers to adjust their pace, routines, and bodies, often resulting in a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty. Despite these challenges, the paper highlights how truckers skilfully navigate various rhythms, finding a sense of game-like enthusiasm in their work. By examining the contradictions between logistical clock time and drivers’ time, the study sheds light on the inequalities surrounding the labor of longhaul truck drivers and explores the social, emotional, and bodily effects of these inequalities. Through an inside look into the drivers’ perspective from inside their cabs, the paper provides insight into the workings of 24/7 capitalism in Russia.

Производственно-технологические и организационно-институциональные механизмы сокращения транзитных рисков и транзакционных издержек межгосударственных перевозок грузов

The research is aimed at describing and analyzing existing and developing new production, technological, organizational and institutional mechanisms for reducing transit risks and transaction costs of interstate cargo transportation. Goal. Development and application of adaptation mechanisms to external sanctions pressure in order to improve the efficiency of the functioning of the transport and transit system (TTS) of Russia, the development of existing transport corridors and the formation of new trade routes and their innovative industrial belts, ensuring the economic sovereignty and national security of the country. Tasks. To analyze scientific and practical approaches to the development of organizational and institutional mechanisms for transport and transit communication with neighboring countries. To characterize adaptive mechanisms for reducing transit risks and transaction costs of interstate cargo transportation. To outline the stages of developing new production, technological, organizational and institutional mechanisms for reducing transit risks and transaction costs of interstate cargo transportation. Methodology. The research uses the methods of evolutionary and institutional theory, system analysis, world system (world economic) analysis, the main provisions of the theory of industrial and technological balance of the economy and technical and economic structures, SWOT analysis, expert and analytical assessments, content analysis of periodical materials. Results. It has been established that in order to reduce transit risks and transaction costs of interstate cargo transportation, modernization and expansion of the capacity of railway and automobile border checkpoints, creation of digital trade routes, formation of large transport and logistics companies engaged in transit transportation of goods, development of a strategy for the creation and functioning of a supranational transport and transit company as an effective organizational and institutional form are required circumvention of foreign government and corporate sanctions against Russia. Conclusions. In the current situation, the development and improvement of methods for meaningful and economic-mathematical modeling of modern trade routes and their innovative industrial belts in order to form adaptive mechanisms to reduce transit risks and reduce transaction costs of servicing export-import and transit cargo flows is becoming more urgent.

Urban Bus Services in Developing Countries and Countries in Transition: A Framework for Regulatory and Institutional Developments

Urban passenger transport has experienced major change in many developing countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as in countries of political and/or economic transition in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and China. Such changes have included planned market opening to private operators and new entrants; unplanned market opening by the entry of unlicensed operators; privatization and other changes to the ownership base of large public-sector transport companies; emergence of large-scale minibus and paratransit; and national and urban policies and programs to upgrade the transport supply and quality.This paper presents a framework to understand regulatory and institutional changes in urban bus services in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the CIS, and China. The framework identifies three types of changes: (i) changes in the role of the regulator and market structure; (ii) changes in the structure of the operator and of private sector participation; and (iii) changes in the transport supply. The paper then identifies critical factors leading to change in the urban transport sector, factors that can be identified with successful outcomes, and issues associated with the development of the minibus, paratransit, and the informal sector that have played major roles in the urban transport sector of developing countries and countries in transition.

Aspects of Personnel Training for the Computer Security of the Transport Industry

The article presents the features of an integrated approach for training specialists in the field of information security, information security and computer security. The development of a knowledge bank containing information about types of vulnerabilities, tools for their detection, operation and neutralization, tools for confidential information transmission and detection of hidden information is a significant methodic aspect in order for graduates to be in demand in large transport companies, in organizations that deal with the security of different spheres of economics.

Optimization of the Export Structure in Transport Companies: A Case Study

With the increasing complexity of economic systems caused by the intensification of European integration processes and the general globalisation trend, the problems of ensuring the optimal operation of transport companies are becoming especially important. Given these facts, the article's purpose is to develop and test a structural modelling algorithm based on the system state indicator (entropy of the structure of the export freight system). Research methods used in the article include: statistical (structure and dynamics analysis), systematisation and comparison, system analysis methods (entropy characteristics), and mathematical programming methods. The mathematical formulation of problems involves studying structural uncertainty due to the synergistic influence of interconnected structures. As a result of the optimisation calculations, the entropy index decreased as a consequence of the optimisation of the studied structures of export cargo. The study results using structural-dynamic modelling provide an opportunity to determine benchmarks for optimising the structure of export transportation. Therefore, they can act as indicators in the relevant field to substantiate the performance of large transport and logistics companies. The use of such approaches will help improve cooperation on a shared basis between Ukraine and the countries of Central Europe.Implications for Central European audience: first of all, the algorithm of structural modelling containing stages is offered (structural-dynamic analysis; systematisation of the reasons that led to structural changes; mathematical formulation of the optimisation problem; numerical solution of the problem; interpretation of results and development of recommendations) as the theoretical contribution. Moreover, it has prospects for implementation by European transport companies, as the strategic partners of Ukraine in the field of rail freight are the Central Europe countries. In turn, practical implications include: to test the proposed model, the process of forming the structure of export freight JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" as a partner of big Central European export companies was chosen as the object of study.

THE IMPACT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONNEL COSTS ON THE PROFITABILITY INDICATORS OF ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT COMPANIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

The paper's main objective is to investigate the effects of personnel cost growth between 2014 and 2019 on the profitability of selected large road freight transport companies based on the collection of publicly available data of these transport companies. The first sub-objective of the paper is to conduct the necessary data collection from the financial statements of road freight transport companies with more than 250 workers. The second sub-objective of the paper is to define financial ratios and to assess the impact of personnel cost growth on the profitability of these enterprises. The third sub-objective is to determine the development of selected financial ratios over the period 2014 to 2019 and to evaluate the impact of personnel cost growth on the development of these ratios for selected transport companies. As a result of the fulfilment of these goals, we identified that an increase in personnel cost led in chosen transport companies in the years 2015 – 2016 to a significant decrease in labour productivity in the form of sales per employee and decreased profit. In the years 2017 – 2018, the year-on-year increase in personnel cost slowed down with impact to improved labour productivity and improved profit. In 2019 although another increase in personnel cost occurred, the situation changed, and labour productivity and profit increased. Analysis of these data showed that an increase of labour productivity in the form of sales per employee and profit increase in 2018 and 2019 was done thanks to the increasing price of transportation that covered higher personnel costs.

Corporate social responsibility in transport and logistics sector

The specific features of corporate social responsibility development process in the Russian small and medium-sized business are researched in the article. The research objectives are to identify the drivers and expected outcomes of responsible behaviors in the Russian small business in transport and logistics sector and to understand the patterns of evolution of entrepreneurs’ attitudes towards social responsibility. The two-step methodological approach is chosen to reach these objectives. In the first step, causal layered analysis methodology is applied, which helped to reveal the deficits in small business social responsibility perception. In the second step, case study of a Russian small company allowed to trace the evolution of the entrepreneurs’ ethical perception and explore the reasons behind this evolution. In the Russian business environment, there is a tendency to treat corporate social responsibility as a unique feature of large transport companies such as railways, airlines and ports; the prospects of social responsibility of smaller businesses are excluded from the discussion. The article challenges the established academic view of the limited existence of social responsibility in Russian small and medium-sized transport enterprises. The wish to manage good relationships with the stakeholders, perceived needs of the stakeholders and values of owners are identified as the drivers for small business responsible behavior. The evolution of the attitudes to corporate social responsibility follows the way to the dominance of internal motives of responsible behavior: the feeling of the ability and desire to contribute to the community’s wellbeing.

Labour Rate Setting for Transport Company’s Managers Based on the Principles of Organisation Design

Analysis and labour rate setting regarding management activities is an important tool in the modern economy, used to improve the corporate efficiency by optimising existing management processes, reducing bureaucracy, and eliminating redundant processes, and, consequently, administrative elements that do not create value, and are an obstacle to normal functioning of the management system. The application of analytical methods to the work of managers is a relevant and powerful tool for increasing productivity and efficiency of corporate management.The article describes the results of a study of tools for analysis and regulation of management activities implemented in the Russian Railways holding company based on the principles of organisation design. The subject of the study is management activity as an object of application of modern methods of analysis and labour rates.The objective of the study is to show the possibility and feasibility of using modern methods of analysis and regulation of labour on the example of a large transport company. The purposes of the study, the results of which are presented in this article, comprise identification of prerequisites for adoption of methods of analysis and regulation of management activities; assessment of possibilities of using the tools of functional analysis of organisation’s entities and divisions to increase efficiency of management activities; description of technologies for labour rate setting for management activities using the example of the Russian Railways holding company.The study is based on the use of methods of process analytics, functional analysis, labour rate setting, and organisation design.The main result of the study is development of methodological approaches to analysis and standardisation of managerial work in a transport company. These approaches will make it possible to reasonably develop labour standards and rates for managers, staffing plan, and adopt modern management practices in the Russian Railways holding company.

Analisis Kinerja Keuangan PT. Blue Bird, TBK Indonesia Sebelum dan Saat Pandemi COVID-19

COVID-19 causes a global pandemic that causes various human life settings to be affected in addition to health, especially the global economy. The transportation sector as one of the business sectors most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to conduct periodic assessments of financial performance. This research aims to analyze the financial performance of PT. Blue Bird, Tbk which is a large non-online taxi fleet transport company with an assessment of liquidity ratio with Current ratio (CR), leverage ratio with Debt to Equity Ratio (DER), profitability ratio with Return On Assets Ratio (ROA), and activity ratio by calculating Receivable Turn Over (RTO). The method used is quantitative with descriptive approach and the data used is secondary data derived from the annual financial statements accessed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange through the official website. The results of the analysis obtained a decrease in revenue and profit up to almost 50% during the pandemic, an increase in liquidity ratio as much as 0.7 times during the pandemic, leverage ratio increased by 0.1 during the pandemic, profitability ratio decreased by 0.02 during the pandemic, and activity ratio, decreased by 0.17 during the pandemic.

Maritime Stock Prices and Information Flows: A Cointegration Study

In this study, the issue of how global maritime stock prices influence the stock prices of large transportation companies in the U.S. and other large markets is examined. Maritime stocks are chosen because they are central in global trade and thus may be good indicators of future global stock market and economic trends. Maritime companies are often owned by families or governments and are traded in stock markets with lower standards of accountability, hence information flows from maritime stocks may be slower than flows from other stocks. Cointegration and vector error-correction analysis is used to analyze the short-term and long-term relationships between maritime stocks, rail stocks, and trucking stocks. Evidence is found of a gradual diffusion of information from maritime stock prices to large rail or trucking stocks. This suggests that price changes in maritime stocks may help predict changes in prices in non-maritime transportation stocks.

A Model-Based Method for System Reconfiguration

Abstract System reconfiguration is essential in complex systems management, as it is an enabler of system adaptability with regard to system evolutions. System evolutions have to be managed to ensure system effectiveness and efficiency through its whole life cycle, particularly when it comes to complex systems that take years of development and dozens of years of usage. In this context, system reconfiguration ensures system operation and maintains system “ilities” (e.g., reliability, availability, maintainability, testability, and safety). This research has been conducted in the context of a large international aerospace, space, ground transportation, defense, and security company. This research aims at supporting system reconfiguration during operations. Within current industrial practices, the development of reconfiguration support is challenging as it requires integrating data related to observations (from operations) and system design (from engineering). More specifically, there is a need to integrate and link relevant reconfiguration data concerning the system objectives, operational context, and level of functioning. This paper proposes integrating and linking this fundamental data within a reconfiguration method. MBSysRec is a multidisciplinary method that involves configuration generation and a multicriteria decision-making method for configuration evaluation and selection to support system reconfiguration during operations. The method has been implemented on two projects based on historical data. Resulting configurations have been discussed and assessed by system reconfiguration experts. A Search and Rescue (SAR) case study is used to demonstrate the method. The method is proven effective for finding relevant system configurations for reconfiguring the already deployed system to achieve search and rescue missions.