Alternative solutions for terminal traffic: A study of short distance transports in Schenker DB Logistics’ Swedish network

Abstract: This research project presents an investigation of different alternatives for producing transportation services for terminal-to-terminal goods on relations shorter than 200 kilometres in Schenker DB Logistics’ network in Sweden. To be successful in today’s transport market, a company must be cost efficient, have high reliability and good customer service. The company can become more successful in the competitive freight transport market by searching for alternatives to decrease costs, increase flexibility, better utilise unused resources and find other alternatives to how transportation services can be produced.
The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate alternatives for producing the terminal to terminal transportation services. How can Schenker utilise unused resources to lower the costs and how will this affect the efficiency and flexibility in the system? Would usage of distribution trucks in terminal-to-terminal traffic be efficient?
The research methodology applied can be described as a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The research approach is inductive as inspiration of the presented alternatives originates from the conducted primary and secondary data collection through written materials and structured interviews with experts within the organisation.
The work has been divided in to two parts. First, a weight criteria method has been used to evaluate future transport alternatives. The second part investigates the usage of distribution trucks as an alternative to line haul trucks. The relations investigated are between Göteborg, Borås and Vänersborg.
The main conclusion from the results of the multi criteria analysis reveals that making more use of the distribution trucks for transporting terminal-to-terminal goods during night-time best fulfils the criteria set up in the used analysis model.
The results of the conducted study indicate that using distribution trucks in terminal-toterminal traffic will cost the same as using line haul trucks, but the capacity is slightly lower. Distribution trucks can serve as an ad hoc solution when there is a capacity problem picking up all the part loads and the terminal goods for the haulier. A distribution truck can that day be used to transport the terminal-to-terminal goods and by doing so save capacity for the line haul truck, which can concentrate on the part loads.
Increased usage of swap bodies and city trailers would create more flexible vehicle combinations. Better flexibility can be used to increase the total efficiency in the transport network. Offering help with making better cargo units at the terminal for the truck driver will probably not result in decreased overall cost. Technical loading is mainly suited for a homogenous freight flow, which Schenker doesn’t have. It would therefore not help Schenker to decrease costs associated with the loading and unloading process.