SHIPPER BENEFITS DERIVABLE FROM AUTOMATIC CAR IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS

This study identifies and places a value on benefits to railroad shippers resulting from the full implementation and use of an Automatic Car Identification (ACI) System meeting the current specification of the Association of American Railroads (AAR). It is first known study analyzing benefits to shippers, as opposed to carrier benefits, although the latter are also discussed. The study estimates that shippers would realize from rail service improvements alone an annual savings of $322 million. The savings are attributed to (a) increased service reliability and (b) accurate real-time car location messages. Study contends such improvements would stimulate demand for rail service and should result in a capitalized value of the net cash flows to the railroads (over 20 year period) ot $251 million.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research was sponsored by the Computer Identics Corporation, Westwood, Massachusetts.
• Corporate Authors:

  Gellman Research Associates, Incorporated

  100 West Avenue
  Jenkintown, PA  United States  19046
• Publication Date: 1976-11

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 90 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic car identification; Demand; Economic analysis; Freight transportation; Information systems; Quality of service; Reliability; Return on investment; Traffic managers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Shippers
• Subject Areas: Economics; Freight Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00147679
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Computer Identics Corporation
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 16 1977 12:00AM