Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

REDESIGNING RAIL-TRUCK INTERMODAL DRAYAGE OPERATIONS FOR ENHANCED SERVICE AND COST PERFORMANCE

1994; Volume: 34; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

1046-1469

E K Morlok, Lazar N. Spasovic,

Urban and Freight Transport Logistics

This paper presents the results of research on redesigning the trucking portion, or drayage, of rail-truck intermodal freight service. Currently, despite its relatively short distance compared to the rail movement, drayage accounts for a large fraction of intermodal origin to destination costs and is a major factor in service quality as perceived by the shipper. This high drayage cost seriously affects the profitability of intermodal service, and also limits the markets in which it can compete with intercity trucking. This paper examines the potential for improving service quality and reducing cost of drayage. The approach used was to examine in detail the current costs and potential for improvement at one intermodal terminal, in a case study type of analysis. The limitation to one terminal was dictated by extreme difficulty and cost of obtaining reasonably good data on actual trailer movements and demands, resulting from the fragmented responsibility for current drayage operations (involving many intermodal retailers and drayage companies). Current costs were estimated using existing drayage prices and discount practices. An optimized drayage operation in which tractor and trailer movements are centrally planned was developed using an integer programming model for tractor and trailer scheduling, with time windows for pick up and delivery. An alternative system design that includes various payment options for drayage was also developed for the centralized drayage operation. The model was then used to compute the cost of each alternative. The results reveal substantial cost savings, of 43% to 63% for the centralized operation over the current operation. The implications for rail-truck intermodal operation are discussed. In addition, possible changes in intermodal organizational and operational procedures that are necessary to achieve the cost savings are also discussed.