Choosing Multimodal Freight Mix: An Integrated Multi-Objective Multicriteria Approach

Multimodal freight transportation emerges as the go-to strategy for cost-effectively and sustainably moving goods over long distances. In a multimodal freight system, where a single contract includes various transportation methods, businesses aiming for economic success must make well-informed decisions about which modes of transport to use. These decisions prioritize secure deliveries, competitive cost advantages, and the minimization of environmental footprints associated with transportation-related pollution. Within the dynamic landscape of logistics innovation, various multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches empower businesses to evaluate freight transport options thoroughly. In this study, we utilize a case study to demonstrate the application of the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) algorithm for MCDM decision-making in freight mode selection. We further enhance the TOPSIS framework by integrating the entropy weight coefficient method. This enhancement aids in assigning precise weights to each criterion involved in mode selection, leading to a more reliable decision-making process. The proposed model provides cost-effective and timely deliveries, minimizing environmental footprint and meeting consumers’ needs. Our findings reveal that freight carbon footprint is the primary concern, followed by freight cost, time sensitivity, and service reliability. The study identifies the combination of Rail/Truck as the ideal mode of transport and containers in flat cars (COFC) as the next best option for the selected case. The proposed algorithm, incorporating the enhanced TOPSIS framework, benefits companies navigating the complexities of multimodal transport. It empowers making more strategic and informed transportation decisions. This demonstration will be increasingly valuable as companies navigate the ever-growing trade within the global supply chains.

Urban Freight Consolidation Model for Post-Hauler Planning

Freight transportation in urban areas has increased significantly in a shorter period due to the widespread use of e-commerce, fast delivery, and population growth. Recently, a noticeable government initiative aimed at creating an effective, acceptable, and sustainable city logistics policy. This paper examines freight consolidation as a transportation strategy for optimizing last-mile delivery costs. Freight consolidation involves combining smaller shipments from various origins into a single, larger shipment for more efficient transportation to a common destination. This approach is particularly beneficial for last-mile delivery, where frequent deliveries of smaller quantities are frequently visible. Finally, we provide an illustrative example targeting urban freight stakeholders for practicing possible consolidation methodology. The result in the illustrative example shows that freight with 3-day consolidation, despite the delay penalty, is cheaper than daily shipping, and both are cheaper than 2-day consolidated shipping. The study will benefit urban businesses and freight services.

Safety of the express freight train running over a long-span bridge

Purpose-Express freight transportation is in rapid development currently.Owing to the higher speed of express freight train,the deformation of the bridge deck worsens the railway line condition under the action of wind and train moving load when the train runs over a long-span bridge.Besides,the blunt car body of vehicle has poor aerodynamic characteristics,bringing a greater challenge on the running stability in the crosswind.Design/methodology/approach-In this study,the aerodynamic force coefficients of express freight vehicles on the bridge are measured by scale model wind tunnel test.The dynamic model of the train-long-span steel truss bridge coupling system is established,and the dynamic response as well as the running safety of vehicle are evaluated.Findings-The results show that wind speed has a significant influence on running safety,which is mainly reflected in the over-limitation of wheel unloading rate.The wind speed limit decreases with train speed,and it reduces to 18.83 m/s when the train speed is 160 km/h.Originality/value-This study deepens the theoretical understanding of the interaction between vehicles and bridges and proposes new methods for analyzing similar engineering problems.It also provides a new theoretical basis for the safety assessment of express freight trains.

Accessibility Measures in Modal Choice Models: A Proof of Concept Applied to Freight Transport

Modal choice models applied to interregional or international freight transportation network models are often based on rather coarse origin-destination matrices, containing annual transported tonnages between (sub)regions, for instance. Generally, only basic (sometimes constructed) independent variables (transportation costs or transit times) are used because other variables such as shipment sizes, service frequencies, etc. are not available. Using origin-destination matrices and an assignment model, it is also possible to compute spatial accessibility measures that can further be used as additional explanatory variables. Indeed, several published studies have identified network accessibility as an important element in the mode-choice decision. This paper also shows that the inclusion of an accessibility measure in the utility functions of a logit model substantially improves the performance of a transportation network model, both in the modal choice and the assignment levels of the classical four-step model. Consequently, the assignment of the estimated modal demands results in more accurate estimated traffic on the networks. The model presented in this paper is to be considered as a proof of concept because its workflow should further be streamlined to make it easily useable by modelers.

Making Data-Driven Transportation Decisions for Freight Operations

Using Louisiana’s Interstate system, this paper aims to demonstrate how data can be used to evaluate freight movement reliability, economy, and safety of truck freight operations to improve decision-making. Data mainly from the National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS) and the Louisiana Crash Database were used to analyze Truck Travel Time Reliability Index, commercial vehicle User Delay Costs, and commercial vehicle safety. The results indicate that while Louisiana’s Interstate system remained reliable over the years, some segments were found to be unreliable, which were annually less than 12% of the state’s Interstate system mileage. The User Delay Costs by commercial vehicles on these unreliable segments were, on average, 65.45% of the User Delay Cost by all vehicles on the Interstate highway system between 2016 and 2019, 53.10% between 2020 and 2021, and 70.36% in 2022, which are considerably high. These disproportionate ratios indicate the economic impact of the unreliability of the Interstate system on commercial vehicle operations. Additionally, though the annual crash frequencies remained relatively constant, an increasing proportion of commercial vehicles are involved in crashes, with segments (mileposts) that have high crash frequencies seeming to correspond with locations with recurring congestion on the Interstate highway system. The study highlights the potential of using data to identify areas that need improvement in transportation systems to support better decision-making.

多情景模拟下的跨境铁路运输时效研究——以中老铁路为例

跨境铁路运输是中国与周边国家陆路联通的重要环节。跨境铁路运输时效既受线路畅通情况、基础设施技术等级等“硬联通”因素的制约,也受到海关条例、口岸畅通水平等“软联通”因素的影响。因此,跨境铁路运输时效研究应充分考虑不同情景,以期更科学地模拟运输时长的变化机理。本文以中老铁路(中国昆明−老挝万象,简称中老铁路)为例,在梳理中老铁路沿线地区社会经济概况及基础设施发展水平的基础上,考虑不同运营速度、通关时间、铁轨换装、多式联运等因素,构建了长途跨境运输时间的计算模型,采用多情景模拟方法,解析了中老铁路运的优势距离及客货运时效变化。研究表明:①中老铁路有助于沿线跨境运输时间显著减少。相比公路运输,客货运时间优势均超过20%;②通关时间是影响跨境铁路运输的关键要素之一,占运输总时长的20%~60%;③铁海联运是中老铁路运输进一步提升运输效率的途径,能有效缩短老挝至日本的总运输时间。

宏观尺度下公路货运网络空间结构的特征和演进规律

为揭示我国省际公路货运网络的空间结构特征和演进规律,据此优化物流布局、提升货运效率和降低货运成本,依据宏观尺度下的调查年份公路货运数据,构建模型测算公路OD货运量,并利用网络分析方法探索公路货运网络空间结构及其演进规律。首先,提出基于流量调节的省际公路OD货运量推算方法,以解决非调查年度数据缺失问题。然后,基于2013年和2022年两个特征年度的数据,通过网络分析和社区发现技术,识别出我国公路货运网络结构从4个区域向3个区域演进的规律,揭示了网络中明显的空间相互依赖性。最后,对社区发现结果的各片区进行综合评估,发现北部地区具有公路货运区域自给自足的特点,长三角地区表现出高度一体化特征,南部区域则呈现公路货运交流量较低的特点;通过加权度中心性分析,发现北部地区呈现公路货运网络多中心模式,长三角地区公路货运网络各节点均衡集聚,南部区域公路货运网络中重要节点较少、交流量相对偏低。研究结果表明,我国公路货运网络区域分化较显著,不同区域呈现不同的发展模式和演进特征。

基于嵌入式技术的无人驾驶货运系统设计

针对目前货运行业人力成本高且效率低的问题,设计一种基于嵌入式技术的无人驾驶货运系统。该系统通过摄像头扫描目标地址即可携带货物自动到达并返回,同时对于复杂货运场合可实现多系统独立工作。设计采用嵌入式芯片STM32F4和串级PID算法,通过K210和OpenMV摄像头模块采集地址和轨迹信息,实现货运系统的自动运送过程。经测试,该系统能准确完成货运任务,反应灵敏,性价比高,可广泛应用于货运场合。

数字经济视角下物流企业向网络货运转型的挑战与应对策略

基于数字经济下的物流行业正朝着智慧物流方向转型升级和信息建设与电子商务大力发展的背景下,我国物流行业的发展也取得了很好的成效。目前正处于互联网时代,物流行业的运输模式也进行了相应的变革。其中,网络货运成为了物流行业内最具推崇的运输方式。基于此,文章通过对物流企业的网络货运形式进行了详细探讨,明确了网络货运在物流企业中所具有的重要意义及价值,由此提出了促进网络货运发展的有效策略。

物流园区业务整合视角下物流业集群升级研究

物流园区是物流业集群化发展的产物,是推进物流业升级的重要载体。以物流园区为研究对象,聚焦园区之间的业务整合问题,从专线运输、仓储配送和货运订单三种业务整合视角,分析归纳了物流园区业务整合推进物流业集群升级的方式。其中,专线运输视角归纳为主体企业整合和会员制整合两种方式,仓储配送视角归纳为物流业务整合和设施设备整合两种方式,货运订单视角归纳为横向整合和纵向整合两种方式。在介绍每种方式时,通过物流园区案例研究和探讨,归纳总结了我国目前各地以物流园区业务整合推进物流业集群升级的一些经验和做法。业务整合是近年来物流园区发展的重要方向,对推进物流业升级具有一定的借鉴价值。

基于多目标进化的超限超重货物运输专列路径优化方法

针对超限超重货物运输专列路径优化问题,引入限界改造和桥梁加固要素,以铁路运能损失、运输时间和运输费用的最小化为优化目标,构建铁路超限超重货物运输专列路径优化模型;考虑专列同时运送多件超限超重货物的特点,设计货物综合投影算法,并以Pareto支配关系框架下的NSGA-Ⅱ多目标进化算法为基础,结合基于移动不可行解的自适应惩罚函数的约束处理技术及超限超重货物运输专列开行特征,提出一种基于多目标进化的铁路超限超重货物运输专列路径优化算法。实例分析结果表明:该方法能高效合理地处理路径优化任务中的多个目标;与常用的3种约束多目标算法相比,设计的优化算法能使计算耗时降低0.24%~29.94%、超体积指标值提高4.25%~13.11%,并得到一组收敛性和多样性更好的相对最优方案。该方法克服了传统专列路径优化中单纯依靠经验或从备选方案中择优的弊端,可为铁路超限超重货物运输专列路径决策提供技术支持。

高铁开通对物流业发展影响的实证研究

促进物流业的高质量发展是建设现代化产业体系的一个重要方面,也是内循环发展格局的重要环节,高铁网建设的不断进展使铁路运输能力得到质的飞跃,探讨和分析高铁货运以及高铁开通对物流业的影响具有现实意义和必要性。依据运输业和物流业发展现状及规划发展的相关文件,论证了高铁开通对物流业的影响机制,建立物流业综合水平测度指标,通过PSM-DID模型实证分析高铁对物流发展的影响,进行异质性检验、机制检验等。研究表明:高铁开通对城市区域物流发展水平整体上具有促进作用;高铁对物流业的影响与该城市的规模、等级、地理位置以及运输业市场结构密切相关;高铁对物流业的影响主要通过区域经济增长、货运运输量提升、物流人力资本提升等途径实现。

客货“共线不共车”模式下地铁货运站点选择

电子商务的蓬勃发展极大增加了城市物流配送和环境保护方面的压力,让地铁承担部分货运功能成为当前解决这一难题的全新思路。本文基于城市地铁运行特征及未来发展趋势,研究客货列车“共线不共车”模式下的地铁货运,并结合地铁系统的运营情况和内部结构,通过建立E-TOPSIS流量筛选模型、集合覆盖模型、混合整数规划的组合模型,对地铁站点进行分析,从而选择合适的站点作为货运站,最终实现地铁客货列车“共线不共车”模式下的货运方案。最后,以北京市通州区为例进行模拟仿真,找出通州区可开展货运的地铁站点,对地铁货运站点选择的方法进行了验证。

中老铁路货运增量市场空间预测研究

中国与东盟国际贸易呈现不断扩大的合作规模,中老铁路的建设对于加强中老两国之间的贸易和物流往来具有积极影响。基于中老铁路货源特征调查情况和中老两国双边贸易额的发展趋势,采用灰色预测模型预测了中老两国2023—2027年期间的货运量;结合中老铁路沿线货运业务辐射范围,选择运输时间、运输费用、准时性、安全性4个影响因素构建效用函数,并利用AHP法进行赋权,最后通过构建Logit模型预测了中老铁路运输通道内铁路及公路2024—2027年期间的货运量分担率和货运量。预测结果能够为中老铁路丰富集装箱联运产品体系、提高货运营销维度、大力发展多式联运与国际联运及构建货运品牌,进一步促进货运营销、提升规模化运输下的货源组织水平提供指导性的建议。

我国铁路货运效率与绿色物流发展耦合协调研究

铁路货运效率对绿色物流发展有重要影响,通过构建我国铁路货运效率投入产出评价指标体系和绿色物流发展评价指标体系,运用超效率DEA模型和熵权TOPSIS法分别测度2010—2020年我国30个省(市、自治区)的铁路货运效率和绿色物流发展水平,运用耦合协调度模型分析我国铁路货运效率与绿色物流发展耦合协调度,并用障碍度模型进行障碍因子诊断。结果表明:2010—2020年我国铁路货运效率呈先下降后上升态势,绿色物流发展水平呈持续向好态势;铁路货运效率与绿色物流发展耦合协调水平整体呈不断上升趋势,耦合协调等级由勉强协调演变成初级协调,耦合协调度仍有较大优化空间;通过障碍因子分析,发现铁路货运量、人均货物周转量、铁路货物周转量、物流设施用地面积和铁路里程对协调性影响较大。

我国综合货运枢纽演进特征及发展对策

为加快建设现代化交通运输基础设施体系,推动降低全社会物流成本、提高经济运行效率,聚焦综合货运枢纽,通过梳理其发展历程,研究了综合货运枢纽的概念内涵、功能定位、演进特点,厘清其定义和空间边界,找出其发展中面临的难点。在此基础上,提出推进综合货运枢纽发展的思路,以及规划布局、建设要求、运营模式和协调机制四个方面的对策建议,旨在推动统一对综合货运枢纽的认识、形成发展合力,为构建现代化综合货运枢纽系统提供基础支撑。

消费者风险厌恶的运费险分担机制与供应链定价研究

考虑消费者的退货行为、风险厌恶态度和运费险价值敏感,建立零售商承担、消费者承担、零售商与消费者共同承担、零售商与制造商共同承担4种不同运费险承担方式的Stackelberg价格博弈模型,研究供应链的定价决策和在线零售商的最优退货运费险策略。研究表明:低退货率和高运费险敏感性有助于提高供应链的整体利润;低退货率时,在线零售商主动为消费者购买运费险优于消费者自行购买;运费险的分担机制不能实现供应链协调。

考虑消费者风险规避的供应链退货运费险与定价策略

针对线上买卖双方的退货运费承担纠纷,电商平台引入退货运费险来分摊商品退货风险,但宽松的退货政策又增加了消费者的退货行为。为此,将第三方保险公司引入制造商主导和网络零售商跟随的斯坦克尔伯格博弈中,考虑风险规避型消费者的退货行为和运费险敏感性,建立多方决策主体共同参与的卖家运费险、买家运费险和运费险共同分担等3种定价退货模型,研究网络零售商的定价决策和运费险策略。结果表明:消费者的风险规避态度有助于降低商品售价和运费险价格,提高市场需求和企业利润;运费险共同分担机制能够有效缓解客户流失;退货率较低时,消费者的运费险偏好有利于供应链总利润的增长。

平曲线上大调整量弹性支承块式轨道结构动力响应规律分析

基于车辆-轨道耦合动力学及有限元方法,采用ABAQUS®-MATLAB®联合仿真技术,建立车辆-钢轨-弹性支承块式无砟轨道耦合动力学模型,研究不同的车辆类型在多种平曲线线型条件下大调整量弹性支承块式无砟轨道的动力响应特性,分析并评估弹性支承块式无砟轨道用于小半径曲线线路条件的适用性和可行性。研究结果表明:轨下垫板高度的调整对各项指标的影响比支承块帽檐高度调整对各项指标的影响小,当调高从-60 mm增加到60 mm时,轨距扩大量增幅达到了235.00%,当且仅当在调低或调高轨下垫板高度时,轨距扩大量才会发生明显变化;随曲线半径减小,轨距扩大、行车安全性、稳定性等指标随之增大;小曲线半径对支承块的轨距保持能力具有较大影响,当半径减小到2 800 m时,轨距扩大量相比于半径5 000 m的增大了67.50%;与客车相比,当货车运行至小半径曲线路段时,轨距扩大量具有明显的增大趋势,在相同运行条件下,相比于客车的轨距扩大量,货车的轨距扩大量增幅达到110.45%。总体而言,在不同曲线半径、支承块调高情况下,列车运行各项安全性、稳定性及轨距扩大量等指标均在规范规定的安全限值以内,总体来看轨道几何保持能力良好;在实际工程中,当列车尤其是货车经过小曲线半径路段时,应尽量降低行驶速度,以避免困难路段所带来的影响行车安全性、稳定性等隐患。

高速公路货车空车差异化费率优化的双层规划方法

为解决高速公路货车由计重收费调整为按车型收费导致货车空车分流的问题,本文建立一种基于双层规划模型的货车空车分车型差异化费率优化方法。首先,以高速公路经营主体实现收费收益最大化为目标构建上层规划模型,考虑高速公路通行效率提升及增量货车空车增加的管养支出;其次,以道路使用者实现出行效用最大化为目标构建下层规划模型,构建基于逻辑回归模型和随机效用最大化理论的货车空车出行效用函数,分析货车空车特性变量对出行效用的影响;然后,采用多层神经网络模型及三次艾尔米特插值法,预测不同费率优惠下高速公路货车空车增量交通量,作为上下层联系变量;最后,以高速公路与平行老路构成的运输通道为例,采用内存受限的拟牛顿优化算法(L-BFGS-B)求解高速公路货车空车分车型最优费率。结果表明:高速公路费率折扣率对货车空车各车型出行选择影响最为显著;此外,车籍地对一类、四类货车空车出行选择影响较大,运输类型对二类、三类和六类货车空车出行选择影响较大;与现行费率方案相比,优化后的费率方案年度增加通行费收入3941万元,高速公路通行效率提升4.17%,货车空车平均每车出行效用增加3.51。