INTERCITY FREIGHT FUEL UTILIZATION AT LOW PACKAGE DENSITIES-AIRPLANES, EXPRESS TRAINS AND TRUCKS

This report provides a comprehensive air energy usage data for low package densities. It is emphasized that all modes do not compete in all markets and indeed modes are complementary. Mode selection varies with the specifics of each transportation requirement: trip length, market size, transport time, commodity characteristics, etc. The major objective of this paper is to explore the relationship between energy conservation and value of transportation. Several aspects of modal energy analysis are examined, including the impact of freight density on modal trip energy comparison. Only the operational energy consumption data are analysed. The paper concludes: at average air freight density, typical express trains and typical trucks are respectively 7 and 4 times more fuel efficient than air freighters; because of the significant quantities of freight carried in the bellies of passenger airplanes, air freighters do not necessarily represent a correct base for air cargo; the latter depends upon the passenger airplane trip fuel allocation technique. The results presented in this report are markedly different from those found in published analysis which ignore the characteristics of the markets served by each mode. The author also expounds upon the fact that because of unavailability of good data here, fair energy comparisons have been difficult.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the Third National Conference (Conf-760895), Effects of Energy Constraints on Transportation Systems, Union College, Schenectady, New York, August 2-6, 1976. Entire volume of Proceedings in RRIS, 165077; RRIS Bulletin 7801.
• Corporate Authors:

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585

  Boeing Commercial Airplane Company

  P.O. Box 3707
  Seattle, WA  United States  98124
• Authors:
  • Miller, M P
• Publication Date: 1977-5

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air transportation; Energy conservation; Energy consumption; Freight trains; Freight transportation; Fuel consumption; Mode choice; Motor carriers; Railroad transportation; Travel time; Trip length; Trucks
• Old TRIS Terms: Cargo transportation; Energy intensiveness
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Economics; Energy; Environment; Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167517
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Energy Research and Development Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph, HS-023 546, HS-023 537
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 1983 12:00AM