Transport Capacity Improvement in and around Ports: A Perspective on the Empty-container-truck Trips Problem

Abstract

The problem of capacity shortage is an important issue for the major ports of the world. In particular, there is an increased necessity for additional transport capacity for containerised goods travelling to and from the hinterland (the region served by the port). For such travel, transportation using roads is often more popular than other methods (e.g., rail). A potential mechanism to increase road-side transport capacity is to lessen the number of empty truck trips by transferring increased numbers of containers using the same number of trucks. This forms the key Research Question (RQ) for this thesis. Namely, how can the number of empty container truck trips to and from a port be reduced to increase the road transport capacity? To date, much of the existing literature on the empty trips issue has been largely of an analytical nature (e.g., the backhaul problem) and thus has generally disregarded the potential benefits of the idea of involving all of the parties concerned in the container transport chain. To bridge that research gap, this thesis extends the shared-transportation concept, which is already proving popular in other areas (car-sharing and bike-sharing systems, for example), to the maritime logistics domain, in the form of truck-sharing. For this reason, the overall thesis work involves a combination of different research methodologies, which may be either qualitative (e.g., exploratory) or quantitative (e.g., simulation). However, before diving into the specifics of empty truck trips, the thesis looks broadly at capacity shortages at ports and particularly at how can a port's capacity be improved? Therefore, a system-dynamics framework is produced based on a review of the factors influencing port capacity, to guide and improve overall port capacity (including, but not limited to, transport capacity). The thesis also shows the potential usefulness of the suggested framework as an operational tool for capacity-expansion decisions (e.g., transport capacity improvement). In support of the question of reducing empty container truck trips, the thesis has four supporting research questions. First, RQ1 is: What are the different mechanisms available in different disciplines and domains for reducing empty truck trips? One of the key findings for this question is the prospect of using the truck-sharing concept for container transportation. RQ2 is: Is it possible to introduce a dynamic truck-sharing facility for a computer-based matching system to reduce empty truck trips? This research question further applies and extends the truck-sharing concept. Therefore, the model developed to answer this question is referred to as a Truck-sharing Service (TSS). However, the successful implementation of the suggested truck-sharing model depends on truck-sharing constraints that have not been fully explored. Therefore, RQ3 is: What are the truck-sharing challenges in achieving a higher level of collaboration among carriers to gain optimal container-truck utilisation and how to best overcome those challenges? Research findings show that port-related attributes, such as a lack of flexibility in the truck appointment system, form constraints against truck-sharing. Finally, to quantify the effect of the truck-sharing model on the potential for the improvement of transport capacity and its related carbon emission saving possibilities, RQ4 is: How will the case study port’s transport capacity be affected by different scenarios? Simulation results show improvement in performance using the truck-sharing idea. In particular, the truck-sharing concept boosts port gate- and transport-capacity, handles the increasing future truck volume effectively, and decreases carbon emissions generated from container trucks. The findings of this thesis work have important implications for the study of both freight transportation and maritime logistics in the reduction of the number of empty trips made by container trucks; this thesis provides theoretical grounds for practical ways of understanding and reforming the containerised cargo transportation process for road carriers. The aim is to increasing freight transport capacity and achieving sustainable transportation benefits at the port.