IMPACT OF INCREASED TRUCK WEIGHTS ON RELATIVE COSTS OF MOTOR CARRIERS AND RAILROADS AND POTENTIAL MODAL DIVERSION (ABRIDGMENT)

The relative costs per ton-mile for rail boxcar, trailer-on-flatcar (TOFC), irregular-route motor carriers, and exempt owner-operators for the period 1977-1985 are examined. A specific rate of inflation was applied to each category of cost in 1977 for the four types of transportation service to determine the effect of inflation to 1985. The relative average freight costs per unit of output were than compared at truck gross vehicle weight limits of 73,280 and 80,000 lb. The principal finding of the study is that any shift in the average costs per ton-mile resulting from an increase in the truck weight limit is influenced by the impact of inflation on the various cost components. A comparison of the relative costs by type of service and mode suggests that inflation may have a more adverse impact on the railroads than on motor carriers of truckload freight. The analysis also indicates that, over the long term, the position of TOFC relative to truckload motor carriage could deteriorate because TOFC costs have been increasing faster than comparable truckload costs. Based on the economic factors specified and analyzed in this study, TOFC is not the preferred transport option over the 1981-1985 period. (Author)

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1982/889/889-007.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IMPACT+OF+INCREASED+TRUCK+WEIGHTS+ON+RELATIVE+COSTS+OF+MOTOR+CARRIERS+AND+RAILROADS+AND+POTENTIAL+MODAL+DIVERSION+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=L.+BATTS&author=R.+Kolins&author=R.+Selva&publication_year=1982
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Task Force on Technical Review Panel for Truck Size and Weight Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved..
• Authors:
  • BATTS, LANA R
  • Kolins, Roger W
  • Selva, Regina T
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 37-39
• Monograph Title: Freight modeling and forecasting
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 889
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Costs; Impact studies; Inflation; Modal diversion; Motor carriers; Railroad transportation; Trucks; Trucks by weight; Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Increase
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00372995
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309035015
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 30 1983 12:00AM