Modal choice for transportation of hazardous materials: the case of land modes of transport of bio-ethanol in Brazil
Introduction
In their productive processes, organizations need to reconcile financial and socio-environmental aspects so that they can remain competitive without harming the environment. This is particularly important in the transport of products due to its participation in productive processes and commercial transactions. In some situations, as in the transport of hazardous products, this decision is even more complex because of the intrinsic characteristics of these goods.
The development of a method to serve as a basis for decisions in this respect justifies deeper scientific studies of the matter. Different concepts regarding evaluation of transport performance are considered in the literature to support decisions on transport modes, which are mentioned in this work. This article examines the following aspects of this problem: What performance evaluation structure could be suitable for freight transport? Is it possible to develop and apply a simple method that conciliates the various concepts of evaluating performance and choosing transport modes? What combination of financial and socio-environmental attributes could be considered in choosing the transport mode for hazardous products?
To answer these questions, here we propose a Modal Choice Method (MCM) and apply it to a real situation, through a case study of the transport of bio-ethanol produced in the Center-South region of Brazil to a port for export. Our main hypothesis is that it is possible to make a suitable modal choice based on performance evaluation.
We developed our MCM based on a review of the literature and study of documents, followed by a field study involving questionnaires given to transportation experts, to identify and select the attributes that are relevant to evaluate the performance of the transport of hazardous materials.
To analyze the data we used a multi-criterion support technique to identify the most suitable alternatives and thus to improve the process of choosing the best transport mode. The results show how socio-environmental aspects can influence the analysis and decision of the best transport alternative and that the MCM is adequate for this purpose.
Section snippets
Evaluation of freight transport performance
With the intent of making supply chain as efficiently as possible, companies evaluate different modes of transport and their combinations, in the form of intermodal transport. This choice can have a large impact on the way the company will meet its customers' demands and compete with its competitors, and must be aligned with the company's business strategy. The development of tools to support in this choice is fundamental to this strategy and involves evaluation of the performance of transport
Modal Choice Method (MCM) with performance evaluation of transport
Fig. 1 summarizes our modal choice method (MCM), composed of seven steps, five of them divided into levels, were prepared based on findings from the bibliography research (Ballou, 2001, Bowersox and Closs, 2001, Chopra and Meindl, 2003, Fleury, 2003, Gil, 1991, Gioninazzo and Wright, 2000, Martins et al., 2005, Pereira, 1983, Pozo, 2004, Santana Filho, 1984, Santana Filho, 1992, Tuzkaya and Önüt, 2008).
This method is essentially dynamic and its results can be revised over time, because the last
Application of the method
We now apply the method to choose among transport land modes and their combinations for a specific hazardous product, namely the transport for export of bio-ethanol produced in the Center-South region of Brazil.
Final considerations and suggestions
Evaluating the performance of freight transport modes is important to meet the objectives of efficiency and efficacy. The method presented here permits visualizing how an adequate method can bring advantages for decision makers.
The choice of the attributes to be considered is an important step in the evaluation process, because it is from these attributes that all the indicators will be defined to attain the results. The consultation of experts brings greater reliability in the choice of the
Ilton Curty Leal Junior. Assistant professor in Federal Fluminense University (UFF). Doctor in Science in Transport Engineering (COPPE/UFRJ-in course). Master in Administration (UFRRJ-2003). Degree in Administration (UFRRJ-2001). Research areas: planning of transports, freight transports, performance evaluation freight transport, transport of hazardous materials, distribution systems and logistics, transport and environment. Professional experienced in logistical management of warehouses and
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2022, Research in Transportation Business and ManagementCitation Excerpt :Regarding the literature review, Table 1 presents attributes that can have impact on the economic performance of ports, which are commonly used in transport performance studies that focus on a sustainable approach. To determine the relevant attributes to be considered, studies evaluating different dimensions of port operation were analyzed (Aronietis et al., 2010; Guimarães, Leal Jr., & Garcia, 2014; Hyuksoo & Sangkyun, 2015; Jafari & Noshadi, 2013; Leachman, 2008; Lee & Lan, 2015; Mangan, Lalwani, & Gardner, 2002; Meersman, Van de Voorde, & Vanelslander, 2010; Nazemzadeh & Vanelslander, 2015; Siqueira et al., 2017; Vandyck & Ismael, 2015 and Yeo, Roe, & Dinwoodie, 2011), such as transport operation (Guimarães et al., 2018; Guimarães, Leal Jr, D'Agosto, Ferreira, & Oliveira, 2014; Leal Jr. & D'Agosto, 2011a, 2011b). From this review, it was possible to propose economic indicators for the performance evaluation.
A stakeholder analysis of actors and networks for land transport of dangerous goods
2021, Research in Transportation Business and ManagementCitation Excerpt :The safety literature largely addresses technical issues such as infrastructure design (Benekos & Diamantidis, 2017; Caliendo & De Guglielmo, 2017; Hervás-Peralta, Poveda-Reyes, Santarremigia, & Molero, 2020), Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) (Laarabi, Boulmakoul, Sacile, & Garbolino, 2014; Molero et al., 2019), consequences of accidents and chemical properties (Chervin & Bodman, 2004; Garbolino & Lachtar, 2012; Khanmohamadi, Bagheri, Khademi, & Ghannadpour, 2018) and accidents (Ellis, 2011; Lecue & Darbra, 2019; Procházka, Hošková-Mayerová, & Procházková, 2020; Yang et al., 2010). The transport system as a whole is often studied from a rather quantitative approach in transport network design (Caro & Paralera, 2011; Verma, Verter, & Gendreau, 2011), risk analysis (Høj & Kröger, 2002; Macciotta, Robitaille, Hendry, & Martin, 2018; Stakhin & Plotnikov, 2021; Van Raemdonck, Macharis, & Mairesse, 2013), modal choice (Leal Junior & D'Agosto, 2011) and decision support (Torretta, Rada, Schiavon, & Viotti, 2017; Verma & Verter, 2010). Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies attempting to take a more holistic approach putting transport of dangerous cargo into a logistics, business, management and society context and investigating different stakeholder roles.
Analyzing interrelationships and prioritising the factors influencing sustainable intermodal freight transport system: A grey-DANP approach
2020, Journal of Cleaner ProductionCitation Excerpt :Kelle et al. (2019) concluded that the environmental performance of the freight transportation system could be improved by shifting freight to rail-based transport. Leal Junior and D’Agosto (2011) developed a modal choice-based model for the transportation of hazardous products in Brazil. They concluded that intermodal services could improve the sustainability of the freight transport industry.
Ilton Curty Leal Junior. Assistant professor in Federal Fluminense University (UFF). Doctor in Science in Transport Engineering (COPPE/UFRJ-in course). Master in Administration (UFRRJ-2003). Degree in Administration (UFRRJ-2001). Research areas: planning of transports, freight transports, performance evaluation freight transport, transport of hazardous materials, distribution systems and logistics, transport and environment. Professional experienced in logistical management of warehouses and transportation of cargo.
Márcio de Almeida D'Agosto. Associated professor in Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Doctor in Science in Transport Engineering (COPPE/UFRJ-2004). Master in Science in Transport Engineering (IME-1998). Degree in Mechanical and Automotive Engineer (IME-1989). Research areas: planning and operation of land transports; urban transit traffic simulation, urban passenger and freight transports, transportation economic evaluation, freight transport technology, traditional and alternative energy (new sources), distribution systems and logistics. Professional experienced in heavy vehicles' fleet (trucks and buses) management and distribution systems' operation.