Road Haulage Industry Research Articles

THE STRATEGIC HGVS PLANNING PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE GREEN LOGISTICS IMPLEMENTATION

The Malaysian government is introducing a number of initiatives to try and reduce the effects of global warming. One of these is the road haulage industry, which contributes significantly as one of Malaysia's largest industries to the nation's effort to reduce its transportation emissions to 45% by 2030. However, the empty movement of trucks and improper transport planning by the management caused some delivery trucks to come back to the headquarters empty and did not fully utilise the space of the vehicles. Therefore, the researchers aimed to propose heavy goods vehicle (HGV) planning practice to solve the problems. This is a mixed-mode research paper in which data was gathered through interviews and estimated calculations. The data has been analysed by comparing the result of the simple estimation calculation with the operational cost and carbon emission. Based on the results, most of them agreed that by using the right strategy, operational costs and carbon emissions can be reduced. The researchers had introduced a few recommendations to enhance the firm’s transport planning practices that could contribute to the field of green logistics as well as the road haulage industry in Malaysia.

Compatibility promotion for standard development within shared platforms: A rising tide does not lift all boats

Selective promotion entails the exploitation of resources offered by individual complementors to improve a proprietary platform’s competitive position. However, as governance decisions to endorse a particular complementor are made unilaterally, such promotion is less suitable for shared platforms that are ultimately owned and managed by an ecosystem of heterogeneous, autonomous complementors. We explore compatibility promotion, which involves screening a shared stock of infrastructural resources and making a choice as to which complementor to promote in light of the capabilities the platform seeks to develop. Based on a longitudinal study of a shared platform that evolved around a new technology standard in the Swedish road haulage industry, we explicate how elevating one complementor over others unsettled the governance of the platform and denied the promoted complementors the opportunity to generate the kind of value that their elevated status implicitly promised. This made the platform better off at the expense of the promoted complementor. Our surprising insight lets us theorize why compatibility promotion in shared platforms renders outcomes opposite to those of selective promotion in proprietary platforms.

Economic impacts of the catenary electric road system implementation in Flanders

Catenary electric road system (ERS) is a technology that enables powering pantograph-equipped road freight vehicles with electricity from overhead catenary while in motorway traffic to provide energy for propulsion and charging the vehicle batteries. Once leaving the catenary road, the energy stored in the battery or another energy source, e.g. hybrid diesel, natural gas or hydrogen, is used for propulsion. In this research we model the deployment of such catenary network on the Flemish road network in Belgium to identify three points. First, what are the economic impacts of the catenary electric road system implementation in Flanders for the road haulage industry, their clients and wider society under different technology adoption scenarios. Second, what is the most optimal way of building such a catenary network. And last, what are the synergies that would come from implementation of this technology in the neighboring countries and how to benefit from those. In this research we find that catenary ERS has the potential to be developed into an economically sustainable and relatively cheap way of decarbonizing road freight transport. It offers considerable economic incentives for all the involved stakeholders and is beneficial to the society as a whole.

Perceptions of Transport Automation amongst Small- and Medium-Sized Road Haulage Companies in Finland

Transport automation is increasingly being studied from different perspectives; however, the perceptions of road haulage companies have received less attention. This study explores the views of representatives of small- and medium-sized road haulage companies on transport automation in Finland. We conducted an online survey to gather perceptions of automation, which received 254 responses from representatives of a range of different transport industries. The respondents’ views towards automation were generally negative. The overall view was that automation may not be possible for heavy vehicles in Finland due to the adverse weather and driving conditions. The perception was that road haulage automation is unlikely to occur before 2050 in Finland. The results provide valuable insight for vehicle manufacturers, technology developers, policy makers, and haulage companies. As the road haulage industry is dominated by small- and medium-sized companies, hauliers should be supported in actively implementing new technologies.

Costs and capabilities of innovative concepts of long and heavy vehicles in Germany

Within the innovative concept of truck platooning vehicles are coupled digitally to vehicle combinations. This can contribute to increase productivity in the road haulage industry. Quite a few field trials have been conducted. Within the European modular concept vehicles are coupled physically to modular vehicle combinations with increased dimensions. This can also contribute to increase productivity in the road haulage industry. It is introduced in Sweden and Finland, field trials have been conducted in Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany.The purpose of the paper is to compare structural differences of cost cuttings of truck platooning and modular vehicle combinations if they were introduced in Germany. The comparison is based on several basic models, a highly automated truck platoon, a fully automated truck platoon, the Lang-Lkw in Germany with a maximum allowed mass (MAM) of 40 t, and the initial Swedish modular vehicle combination with a MAM of 60 t. Major criteria are the cost cuttings per tonne kilometre related to the productivity of the drivers, the fuel consumption, and the necessary technical equipment.There seem to be cost advantages of the European modular concept. Though, the concept is limited to a dedicated road network. Advantages of truck platooning seem to be linked to their flexible formation but limited due to the necessity of decoupling due to the design of the infrastructure and in heavy traffic.

Using crowdsourced data to analyze transport crime

ABSTRACTAnecdotal evidence suggests that harsh social conditions in the road haulage industry are having an impact on transport crime. This paper analyses transport crime, and demonstrates how to use a combination of official statistics and crowdsourced data in the process. A hierarchical regression analysis was applied to investigate the relations among different factors in order to predict transport crime threats. A secondary data set on transport crime from the Swedish Police was combined with primary crowdsourced data from volunteer observations of trucks in Sweden from both high-wage and low-wage countries. The findings imply that transportation is more vulnerable to antagonistic threats in geographical areas where the low-wage hauliers operate more frequently. For policymakers and practitioners, these findings provide useful guidance for the planning of security measures. To the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first exploratory study of its kind that uses a combination of official statistics and crowdsourced data.

Who controls transport emissions and who cares? Investigating the monitoring of environmental sustainability from a logistics service provider’s perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the environmental impact of logistics service provider (LSP) activities in the light of customer priorities and the fragmentation of the road haulage industry in Europe. It also explores the extent to which LSPs can actually monitor the environmental impact of logistics activities in the supply chain (SC).Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a narrative literature review, an interview study, a case survey and three in-depth case studies. A framework on sustainability challenges in SCs, derived from the literature, is used to structure and analyse the findings.FindingsDespite the ambitious environmental schemes communicated by several LSPs, they show little interest in, and exert little control over, the actual emissions generated from their transport operations. It is clear from the results that any real concern from customers for environmental solutions which negatively influence the cost and time requirements of logistics services is not yet a reality.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper implies that LSP sustainability cannot be investigated in isolation if a company does not manage its proprietary resources (like owning trucks and employing drivers), but rather engage subcontractors.Practical implicationsEnvironmental policies among different LSPs appear to be similar as policies, but differ in practice. This variation of practices emphasises the importance of follow-up control by environmentally aware buyers of logistics services.Originality/valueThis paper represents a novel approach as to how LSP environmental policies should be viewed. It highlights the concrete need for action to achieve the environmental targets of 2020 and 2050 for carbon emissions from road transportation.

A conceptualisation of supplier‐perceived value

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a more comprehensive conceptualisation of supplier perceived value (SPV) in business relationships for B2B services.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted amongst logistics firms in Lithuania, which are members of the Lithuanian National Road Carriers' Association (Linava). Data were derived from 13 interviews with senior managers.FindingsSPV is proposed to be a higher order construct consisting of three value dimensions capturing the financial, strategic, and co‐creating value of a customer relationship, which in turn are determined by customer and relationship capabilities and competencies.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed conceptualisation of SPV is based on generic literature and interview data derived from the haulage industry. While the key dimensions of the SPV are sufficiently generic to apply to complex B2B services in general, some aspects (e.g. proxies) might be specific to the context of this study.Practical implicationsThe conceptual model of SPV can be employed by both service suppliers and customers. Service suppliers could utilise it as a tool to prioritise or segment customers, as well as for tailoring service packages to a customer's SPV profile. From the customer's perspective, the model provides a diagnostic tool to assess how important a customer is to a service provider and the level of commitment a customer can expect from a supplier. The study provides insights into the Lithuanian road haulage industry, which is of strategic importance for supply chains linking Western Europe with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries and other Asian markets.Originality/valueThis paper redresses the imbalance in attention paid to value perceptions from the supplier side of the dyad compared with those of the customer. Unlike previous research, it stresses the importance of co‐creation value as a critical dimension of supplier‐perceived value of a customer relationship, in addition to financial and strategic value dimensions. It emphasises the interplay between knowledge, social and operational capabilities to co‐create value.

Short Sea Shipping’s Green Label at Risk

Shifting cargo from land‐based modes to maritime transport has been a prioritized policy in many policy papers to make transport more environmental friendly. Traditional calculations of emissions per transport capacity unit have supported this. However, maritime transport may stand to loose its good environmental reputation in comparison to road transport due to (1) the sluggish processes in maritime environmental policies and the low ambition level of current regulations, (2) the much higher focus on improving the environmental efficiency of the road haulage industry, (3) the much longer economic life of vessels compared to trucks, and (4) focus on faster vessels that increase the average fuel consumption of the sea transport alternative. Through a realistic case study, the energy efficiency and emissions of alternative multimodal transport chains is presented to illustrate these points.

Acceptability of the German Charging Scheme for Heavy Goods Vehicles: Empirical Evidence from a Freight Company Survey

While several European and national studies have dealt with the acceptability of road pricing schemes for passenger transport, only sparse research is available on this issue for freight transport. Against this background, the paper deals with the acceptability of the German road user‐charging scheme for heavy goods vehicles by the road haulage industry. It presents the findings of an internet‐based survey with German road freight operators from which responses on a variety of attitude questions and on a stated‐preference exercise regarding the use of revenues were collected. The study shows that the German transport industry recognizes the severity of transport‐related problems such as neglected road maintenance and congestion. The general idea of distance‐related road user charging is accepted but the scheme is not considered to be effective in reducing traffic on motorways or increasing efficiency of transports. Using the charging revenues within the road sector, e.g. without any form of cross‐subsidising other modes of transport, is decisive for making the charging scheme acceptable for German road hauliers. This is reinforced by the responses on the stated preference exercise where a trade‐off between charge level and use of revenues has been revealed. German hauliers would even accept higher charges than currently raised if revenues were used for road maintenance and relief of bottlenecks.

Trucks and Logistics in Germany, 1900 to 1955:

The paper shows the development of truck transport as a new kind of carrier by road in Germany. The two modes of transport - for own account and for hire and reward - are distinguished and both sectors are characterized. Forms of institutionalizations in the road haulage industry are explored. The conflict between railroad and the road haulage industry is discussed, and the only weak impact of the road haulage industry on the business of the railroad is proven - contrary to the assessment of the railroad. The paper shows how regulation of the road haulage industry is performed in the context of the traffic policy of Nazi rule.

Masculinities in an Occupational Setting: a Gender Perspective on Resistance toward Formal Control

The Swedish road haulage industry is a vital sector and a common way of transporting goods. Approximately 60 000 persons are involved in the industry one way or another. Most of these are men, and I propose that the industry to a large extent is structured from a male norm and that this has consequences in practice—for instance, in the process of constructing occupational masculinities and what implications that might have in everyday work‐life. In this article I explore the question of why and how some of the interviewed men, who are connected to the haulage industry, associated formal control with negative notions. The question is approached with the theoretical framework of James Messerschmidt's Structured Action Theory (1997). The analysis is structured in three interrelated parts. 1) A description of the inner and outer milieus of the industry. By illustrating the social setting and interaction patterns, the process of constructing the profession and the reproduction of values is displayed. 2) The construction of an occupational (blue‐collar) masculinity where class and gender play a central role. 3) How formal control is attributed and pictured among the interviewees, and how they handle formal control in their daily work. The theoretical approach may be useful for understanding how gender and interactions channel actions and values in certain directions. It might also be of interest for insight in mechanisms beyond occupational and corporate crime and a fruitful way to develop criminological thinking.

Assessing the impact of ICT on UK general haulage companies

This paper focuses on the road freight transport industry, using the UK as a case study. It examines the extent to which Internet freight exchanges and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) processes are affecting general haulage. Recent surveys suggest that there is scope within the road transport industry to improve efficiency in terms of fill rates and empty running. Any improvements may also help to alleviate the pressures faced in many developed countries by the haulage industry, which include driver shortages, new legislation, such as the Working Time Directive in Europe, increasing road congestion, as well as to support improvements desired for sustainability. A background summary of the UK road haulage industry and the potential impact of e-commerce are provided before the results of a survey from 49 general haulage operators in their attitude to and adoption of ICT developments are analysed and assessed. The study concludes that a split picture is emerging. While many of the smaller haulage operators remain dependent upon traditional communication and process systems, the larger logistics companies, who control the majority of vehicles and freight movements, are progressively developing new ways of working supported by ICT adoption.

Notes on the Nigerian Food, Beverage and Tobacco (FBT) Road Haulage Industry in 2001

Notes on the Nigerian Food, Beverage and Tobacco (FBT) Road Haulage Industry in 2001

Impact of the road transport directive: a survey of road hauliers in the Netherlands

Implementing the road transport directive for heavy goods vehicle drivers in March 2005 could jeopardise sustainable road delivery systems if less productive drivers and rolling equipment ensue. An investigation of the impact perceived by the Dutch road haulage industry tested eight hypotheses in an instrument distributed electronically. The current driver shortage was expected to worsen, and additional drivers will incur additional operating costs. Where few customers will fund cost increases, historically low returns on investment will demand fundamental changes in transport operating systems. Small firms, international operators and the physical environment are at risk.

Labour scarcity and the survival of small firms: a resource‐based view of the road haulage industry

This article is concerned with the problem of labour scarcity in the road haulage industry and how it affects small firms. The recruitment and retention of lorry drivers is critically important for the industry because driving is no longer seen as an attractive occupation, and there are worries that there is an insufficient supply of new recruits to replace the experienced drivers who are leaving the industry. In order to investigate this issue, we make use of a modified version of the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm, focusing on the notion that a minimum set of ‘table stakes’(HR practices) is necessary for the continued survival of small firms. Drawing on longitudinal data from seven small road haulage companies, we argue that owner‐managers have developed an astute combination of path‐dependent and socially complex networking abilities, embedded within an extensive understanding of both product and local labour markets. We conclude that the RBV needs extending to make greater allowance for different ownership goals and diversity in markets, and to consider the forces that promote similarity rather than difference among firms within an industry.

Book reviews

Books reviewed in this article:Paul Osterman, Thomas A. Kochan, Richard Locke and Michael J. Piore, Working in America: A Blueprint for the New Labour MarketBrian Towers and William Brown (eds.), Employment Relations in Great Britain: 25 years of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration ServiceG. van Gyes, H. de Witte and P. Pasture (eds.), Can Class Still Unite? The Differentiated Work Force, Class Solidarity and Trade UnionsPaul Smith, Unionization and Union Leadership: The Road Haulage Industry

Book Review: History: Unionization and Union Leadership: The Road Haulage Industry

Book Review: History: Unionization and Union Leadership: The Road Haulage Industry

Unionization and Union Leadership: The Road Haulage Industry

Unionization and Union Leadership: The Road Haulage Industry

Unionization and Union Leadership—the road haulage industry

Unionization and Union Leadership—the road haulage industry