Quantifying the Benefits of Collaborative Transportation for Logistics Partners

目的***本研究项目的主要目标是提供对运输环境下公司之间合作的潜在利益的见解。为了实现这一目标，研究计划将通过量化其获得的利益（例如，在更高的利润方面）来说明协同运输（CT）更有效的条件。这项工作的关键新颖之处在于从运输服务客户和运输供应商（承运人）的角度进行严格和客观的评估。******工作性质***为了更好地理解CT的好处，研究计划有四个短期研究目标（ROs）：(1)在考虑重要实际因素的情况下，从卡车承运人的角度量化合作的好处；(2)研究在承运人收到信息后可能发生变化的合作的价值（例如，客户取消了他/她的订单）；(3)检查合作对运输服务客户绩效的潜在好处；(4)评估运输市场中竞争的两家承运人如何通过合作提高利润。***为了完成每个RO，必须完成各种任务：回顾相关研究，收集现场数据，制定调查问题，制定解决方法并评估其性能，设计实验，应用统计方法，记录所有这些任务，并向目标受众撰写报告。***使用不同的研究方法（例如，模拟，分析方法）对于获得ro至关重要。采用不同的方法和不同的任务，使该计划适合培养从本科生到博士生的不同层次的高素质人才。******工作的重要性***拟议计划的成果对全世界的学术界和从业者，特别是加拿大人具有重要意义。***1-该项目将为学术文献做出贡献，为物流合作伙伴提供CT的潜在好处，并开发量身定制的解决方案方法来实现每个RO。***2-所获得的结果对从业者非常有兴趣，因为它揭示了潜在收益更高的条件及其幅度。***3-由于自然的供需不平衡，长途运输中卡车的利用率低是一个问题，特别是在土地辽阔，人口稀少的加拿大。由于研究成果的应用预计将降低运输成本，加拿大卡车运输业将受益，通过提供更实惠的商品和服务，对加拿大人产生积极影响。***4-通过提高卡车利用率，该计划旨在减少燃料消耗，这是迈向绿色环境的重要一步。

Purpose ***The main goal of this research program is to provide insights into potential benefits of collaboration among companies in a transportation context. To achieve this goal, the research program will illustrate the conditions under which collaborative transportation (CT) is more effective by quantifying its obtained benefits (e.g. in terms of a higher profit). The key novelty of this work is in conducting rigorous and objective assessments from the perspectives of both clients of transportation services and transport providers (carriers).******Nature of the work***To provide a good understanding of the benefits of CT, the research program has four short-term research objectives (ROs): (1) quantify the benefits of collaboration from the perspective of a truckload carrier with important practical considerations, (2) study the value of collaboration where information can change after being received by a carrier (e.g., a client cancels his/her order), (3) examine the potential benefits of collaboration on the performance of a client of transportation services, and (4) assess how two competing carriers in a transportation market can improve their profits through collaboration. ***To accomplish each RO, a variety of tasks must be completed: reviewing relevant studies, collecting field data, formulating the problem under investigation, developing solution methods and evaluating their performance, designing experiments, applying statistical methods, documenting all these tasks, and writing reports to targeted audiences. ***Using diverse research methods (e.g., simulation, analytical approaches) is essential in attaining the ROs. Applying different methods along with various tasks makes the proposed program suitable for training highly qualified personnel at different levels, from undergraduate to PhD students. ******Importance of the work***The outcomes of the proposed program are of significant importance to the academic community and practitioners worldwide, and Canadians in particular. ***1-This program will contribute to the academic literature by providing insights into potential benefits of CT for logistics partners and developing tailored solution methods to attain each RO. ***2-The obtained result is of great interest to practitioners because it reveals the conditions under which potential benefits are higher as well as their magnitude. ***3-Due to natural imbalances in demand and supply, low utilization of trucks in long-haul transportation is an issue, particularly in Canada where land is vast and the population is sparse. Since the application of research outcomes is anticipated to lower transportation costs, the Canadian trucking industry will benefit, positively impacting Canadians through the provision of more affordable goods and services. ***4-Through improving trucks utilization, this program aims to reduce fuel consumption, which is an important step towards a greener environment.