Using surveys and focus groups, this project examines the value of a standing panel of shippers who would contribute carrier evaluation data to a central pool for wider distribution. It determines that shippers appear willing to contribute carrier evaluation data to a shared pool; the metrics used by shippers to evaluate carriers are consistent; and there are no apparent technological barriers to the efficient pooling of carrier evaluation data. As a result, it recommends that a pilot project address various implementation efforts.
In this project, researchers sent mail surveys to commercial vehicle operators (CVOs)--for-hire carriers and private fleet operations-in the Twin Cities to determine their use of congestion information and their ability to attach specific values to congestion costs. The project also assessed the ability of CVOs to avoid congestion.
The report presents survey findings. Despite the fact that a vast majority of respondents indicated congestion information would be useful, CVOs do not rely currently on available congestion information to any significant extent. The reasons may include lack of awareness and/or an inability of CVOs to effectively use the form and content of the information. For-hire carriers also are not well-equipped to estimate congestion costs with any degree of confidence. This results from apparently inadequate costing systems and/or technology to capture costs at the vehicle level. Further, respondents said that they had very little flexibility to adjust schedules to avoid congestion. Also, shippers without private fleets feel significantly less strongly about congestion as a problem than their counterparts with such fleets. Thus carriers maybe constrained in their ability to use congestion information. The report also contains a demographic profile of CVOs operating in the Twin Cities and recommendations for further research.
This study examines the interface between state and regulatory agencies and commercial vehicle operators regarding the application of electronic technology.
The various processes followed by the state agencies are documented. In addition, a survey of both freight and passenger commercial vehicle operators (CVO) is analyzed. Significant findings are that CVOs are capable of exchanging information with the state electronically although formal EDI methods appear somewhat distant. A significant portion of CVOs are also prepared to adopt basic IVHS technology which would allow trucks to bypass weigh stations. A summary of barriers to the widespread adoption of these technologies is also included as is a literature review.
