THE TRANSPORTATION FUNCTION OF A SYSTEM : TOWARDS A GENERAL THEORY OF TRANSPORTATION PRODUCTION

A firm can be characterised by the relation between its inputs and outputs , usually called the production function for the single output case and the transportation function for the multiple output case. These functions are said to resume technology, and imply an optimal resource management. Current economic analysis, at this point, usually forgets technology and focuses only on cost and supply functions. In this paper we develop a systematic search to unveil the technology summarised by the transformation function associated to given transportation systems. A model for a simple cyclical system is developed, showing how the output can be expressed explicitly in terms of resources and decision rules. This makes a link between technological aspects - such as individual vehicle motion, fuel consumption, operations at terminals - and supply aspects - such as capacity, service level and travel time. The validity of the main results obtained is discussed, especially when applied to more complex systems. The full theoretical implications and extensions are explored, showing how these conceptual developments help to a better understanding of transportation production, as a part of the usually called "supply side" of a transportation system. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0860501116
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented during the proceedings of Seminar P held at the PTRC's 10th Annual Summer Meeting, University of Warwick, Transport Economics.
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

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  London WC2,   England 
• Authors:
  • GALVEZ, T E
• Conference:
  • Planning & Transport Res & Comp, Sum Ann Mtg, Proc
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 83-92

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Conferences; Costs; Decision making; Economic efficiency; Freight transportation; Fuel consumption; Level of service; Mathematical models; Optimization; Organizations; Production; Technology; Transportation operations; Travel time; Trip length; Trucks; Vehicle capacity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Models; Optimum
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 1251: Capacity (veh); 8525: Conference; 224: Cost; 2248: Decision process; 5911: Efficiency; 232: Fuel consumption; 741: Goods traffic; 697: Journey time; 653: Level of service; 1236: Lorry; 6473: Mathematical model; 1144: Operations (transp network); 9057: Organization (association); 3855: Technology
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Energy; Finance; Freight Transportation; Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00381612
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-86050-111-6
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM