A cost benefit model for high capacity transport in a comprehensive line-haul network

• Main Authors: David Lindqvist, Marwan Salman, Rickard Bergqvist
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2020-11-01
• Series: European Transport Research Review
• Subjects: Road haulage; High capacity vehicles; Transport energy consumption; Freight transportation performance; Longer vehicles; Cost benefit analysis
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12544-020-00451-5
• ISSN: 1867-0717; 1866-8887

Abstract The objective of the paper is to analyse the potential of introducing High Capacity Transport (HCT) within a comprehensive line-haul network. Barriers and enablers have been identified, and a cost benefit model has been developed. The model considers environmental performance, socio-economic costs and operational costs and has been applied to a Swedish context and case study. The findings reveal that HCT can contribute to the development of road transportation in the perspectives of energy consumption and emission releases. It can further strengthen the trade and competitiveness of Swedish hauliers, as the introduction can provide a more cost-efficient system for all actors, including the transporter. However, the potential is largest when longer vehicles are meticulously and scrupulously introduced on a designated network alone.