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International Freight Transport & Logistics

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2019) | Viewed by 16215

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Sustainability invites contributions on the sustainability of international freight transport and logistics. Submitted papers should adhere to the journal’s editorial policies. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • The measurement, accounting and reporting of environmental footprints of international freight transportation and logistics. Topics on standardization, footprint allocation, carbon price, and incentives are in scope here as well;
  • The design, planning, and execution of environmentally-friendly modes of freight transport on networks, including multimodal transport and electric transport;
  • Transport means that makes use of renewable fuels;
  • Business models of sustainable transport, for example of green transport services;
  • LCA analyses of international transport and logistics systems, for example, maritime vessel fleets;
  • Energy systems with particular focus on international transport and logistics, for example reefer container systems.

Prof. Dr. R.A. Zuidwijk
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • International freight transportation and logistics
  • Environmental footprint
  • Multimodal freight transport
  • Energy systems of international freight transport and logistics
  • Renewable fuels
  • Standardization of environmental footprint measurement, accounting, and reporting

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 1740 KiB  
Article
Collaborative Fleet Deployment and Routing for Sustainable Transport
by Panagiotis Ypsilantis and Rob Zuidwijk
Sustainability 2019, 11(20), 5666; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205666 - 14 Oct 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3590
Abstract
Efficient multi-modal transportation in the hinterland of seaport terminals depends on consolidation of container volumes in support of frequent services of high capacity means of transport, such that sustainable multi-modal transport can compete with uni-modal road transport in cost and time. The tactical [...] Read more.
Efficient multi-modal transportation in the hinterland of seaport terminals depends on consolidation of container volumes in support of frequent services of high capacity means of transport, such that sustainable multi-modal transport can compete with uni-modal road transport in cost and time. The tactical design of barge scheduled transport services involves fleet selection and routing through the inland waterway network. The resulting network service design should meet expected demand and service time requirements set by the shippers. We develop a tight MILP formulation for the Fleet Size and Mix Vehicle Routing (FSMVRP) especially adapted for the Port-Hinterland multi-modal barge network design. Also, an analytical model is developed to help understand important design trade-offs made. We consider the case of horizontal cooperation of dry port container terminals that share capacity. Our results show that in case of cooperation, both cost savings and service levels are improved, and allow for sustainable multi-modal transport to be competitive with uni-modal truck transport. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue International Freight Transport & Logistics)
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21 pages, 313 KiB  
Article
Identifying Dominant Stakeholder Perspectives on Sustainability Issues in Reefer Transportation. A Q-Method Study in the Port of Rotterdam
by Bob Castelein, Ron van Duin and Harry Geerlings
Sustainability 2019, 11(12), 3425; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123425 - 21 Jun 2019
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5941
Abstract
Driven by global climate concerns, seaports have formulated sustainability goals, which also require sustainability gains in the fast growing temperature-controlled logistics market—increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, and streamlining logistics processes. This, however, requires cooperation and buy-in from a wide range of stakeholders. To [...] Read more.
Driven by global climate concerns, seaports have formulated sustainability goals, which also require sustainability gains in the fast growing temperature-controlled logistics market—increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, and streamlining logistics processes. This, however, requires cooperation and buy-in from a wide range of stakeholders. To explore the barriers and facilitators of such a transition, we map the interests and attitudes of cold chain actors in the Port of Rotterdam regarding sustainability issues in reefer transportation and cold chains. We identify a limited number of broadly shared perspectives using Q-methodology—a survey-based method to study subjective viewpoints (originating from psychology) that has been used only rarely in the freight transport field. The analysis yields four ‘dominant’ perspectives that together account for 46% of the variation among stakeholder viewpoints. We label these perspectives “sustainability as part of strategy”, “short term constraints”, “optimistic about technology, limited role for policy”, and “long run willingness under risk avoidance.” These perspectives are characterized by multiple factors, including the evaluation of organizational capabilities, expectations from policymakers and technology, and the time horizon stakeholder organizations consider regarding sustainability concerns. From the findings, we derive recommendations for managers and policy makers to facilitate stakeholder dialogue and possibly convergence and coalition building. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue International Freight Transport & Logistics)
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13 pages, 1176 KiB  
Article
Characteristics Analysis of Freight Mode Choice Model According to the Introduction of a New Freight Transport System
by Seungjin Shin, Hong-Seung Roh and Sung Ho Hur
Sustainability 2019, 11(4), 1209; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11041209 - 25 Feb 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5948
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of freight mode choices made by shippers and carriers with the introduction of a new freight transport system. We set an area in which actual freight transport takes place as the analysis scope [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of freight mode choices made by shippers and carriers with the introduction of a new freight transport system. We set an area in which actual freight transport takes place as the analysis scope and performed a survey of the shippers and carriers that transport containers to identify their stated preference (SP) regarding the new freight mode. The SP survey was carried out through an experimental design and this study considered the three factors of transport time, transport cost, and service level. This study compared and analyzed the models by distance using an individual behavior model. The results of estimating the model showed that the explanatory power of the model classified by distance and the individual parameters have statistical significance. The hit ratio was also high, which confirms that the model was estimated properly. In addition, the range of elasticity and the value of travel time analyzed using the model were evaluated to be appropriate compared to previous studies. The findings of the elasticity analysis show that strategies for reducing the transport cost are effective to increase the demand for the new transport mode. The value of travel time of freight transport was found to be higher than the current value generally applied in Korea. Considering that the value of travel time currently used is based on road freight transport, further research is required to apply a new value of travel time that reflects the characteristics of the new transport mode in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue International Freight Transport & Logistics)
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