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Student Thesis and Dissertations

Enhancing Performance Measurement: Implementing Computable General Equilibrium Models in Truck-Freight Network Investment Prioritization

 
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Publication: Freight Policy Transportation Institute
Publication Date: 2013
Summary:
The adoption of defensible performance measures and establishment of proven results has become a necessity of many state Transportation Departments. A major factor in demonstrating results is the impact a transportation infrastructure improvement project has on the region’s economic climate. Though often previously underrepresented in policy and planning of transportation systems, freight movement plays a critical role in the transference of infrastructure improvement benefits into regional economic impacts. The degree of impact influenced by freight movement improvements is dependent upon location and geographic scale of evaluation. This paper assesses the geographic scale considerations in selecting the modeling framework to evaluate economic impacts. Specifically, we consider the results of regional input-output (I-O) models as compared to those of computable general equilibrium (CGE) models in response to reduced travel time and operating costs in the freight highway network. Though widely used for policy and planning purposes, I-O models have come under criticism for their inability to realistically model the behaviors of a regional economy. Despite their increased flexibility in real-world modeling, CGE models have been resisted due to their complexity of use. We consider the implications of selecting between ease of use and model flexibility at scales ranging from a single county to statewide.

 

 

Authors: Dr. Anne Goodchild, Jeremy Sage, John Maxwell, Zun Wang, Ken Casavant
Recommended Citation:
Sage, Jeremy. John Maxwell, Zun Wang, Ken Casavant, and Anne Goodchild. "Enhancing Performance Measurement: Implementing Computable General Equilibrium Models in Truck-Freight Network Investment Prioritization." University of Washington Master's degree thesis. 
Paper

Economic Analysis of Onboard Monitoring Systems in Commercial Vehicles

 
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Publication: Transportation Research Record
Volume: 2379
Pages: 64-71
Publication Date: 2013
Summary:
Onboard monitoring systems (OBMSs) can be used in commercial vehicle operations to monitor driving behavior, to enhance safety. Although improved safety produces an economic benefit to carriers, understanding how this benefit compares with the cost of the system is an important factor for carrier acceptance.
In addition to the safety benefits provided by the use of OBMSs, operational improvements may have economic benefits. This research provides, through a benefit-cost analysis, a better understanding of the economic implications of OBMSs from the perspective of the carrier. In addition to the benefits of reduced crashes, the benefits associated with reduced mileage, reduced fuel costs, and the electronic recording of hours of service (HOS) are considered. A sensitivity analysis demonstrates that OBMSs are economically viable under a wide range of conditions.
The results indicate that for some types of fleets, a reduction in crashes and an improvement in HOS recording provides a net benefit of close to $300,000 over the 5-year expected life span of the system. Furthermore, when additional benefits, such as reduced fuel consumption and reduced vehicle miles, are explored, the operation-related benefits can be upward of seven times more than the safety-related benefits.
This research also shows that net positive benefits are possible in large and small fleets. The results can be used to inform policies that motivate or mandate carriers to use such systems and to inform carriers about the value of system investment.

 

Authors: Dr. Anne Goodchild, Kelly A. Pitera, Linda Ng Boyle
Recommended Citation:
Pitera, Kelly, Linda Ng Boyle, and Anne V. Goodchild. "Economic Analysis of Onboard Monitoring Systems in Commercial Vehicles." Transportation Research Record 2379, no. 1 (2013): 64-71. 
Technical Report

Development of a Freight Benefit/Cost Methodology for Project Planning

 
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Publication: Washington State Department of Transportation, Pacific NW Transportation Consortium (PacTrans)
Publication Date: 2013
Summary:
Future reauthorizations of the federal transportation bill will require a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the freight benefits of proposed freight system projects. To prioritize public investments in freight systems and to ensure consideration of the contribution of freight to the overall system performance, states and regions need an improved method to analyze freight benefits associated with proposed highway and truck intermodal improvements that would lead to enhanced trade and sustainable economic growth, improved safety and environmental quality, and goods delivery in Washington State.
This project develops a process to address this need by building on previous and ongoing research by some project team members to develop an agency-friendly, data-supported framework to prioritize public investments for freight systems in Washington and Oregon. The project integrates two ongoing WSDOT-funded efforts: one to create methods to calculate the value of truck and truck-intermodal infrastructure projects and the other to collect truck probe data from commercial GPS devices to create a statewide Freight Performance Measures (FPM) program. This integration informs the development of a framework that allows public agencies to quantify freight investment benefits in specific areas such as major freight corridors and across borders.

 

 

Authors: Dr. Anne GoodchildDr. Ed McCormack, Ken Casavant, Zun Wang, B Starr McMullen, Daniel Holder
Recommended Citation:
Casavant, Ken, Anne Goodchild, Ed McCormack, Zun Wang, B. Starr McMullen, and Daniel Holder. "Development of a Freight Benefit/Cost Methodology for Project Planning." 
Student Thesis and Dissertations

Economic Implications of the Use of Technology in Commercial Vehicle Operations

Publication Date: 2012
Summary:

The effective and efficient movement of freight is essential to the economic well-being of our country but freight transport also adversely impacts our society by contributing to a large number of crashes, including those resulting in injuries and fatalities. Technology has been used increasingly to facilitate safety and operational improvements within commercial vehicle operations, but motor carriers operate on small profit margins, limiting their ability to make large investments without also seeing an economic benefit from such technologies. This dissertation explores the economic implications associated with using onboard monitoring systems to enhance safety in commercial vehicle operations.

First, to better understand how electronic on-board systems work, paper-based methods of recording driver hours of service are compared to automated (or electronically recorded) hours of service for three motor carriers using process analysis. This analysis addressed the differences between manual (paper-based) and electronic methods of recording hours of service, specifically as they relate to the frequencies and magnitude of the errors. Potential errors are categorized by operations within an information-based process and the findings suggest that a reduction of errors can be achieved with an electronic system.

A benefit-cost analysis provides a better understanding of the economic implications of onboard monitoring systems from the perspective of the carrier. In addition to the benefits of reduced crashes, benefits associated with electronic recording of hours of service, reduced mileage, and reduced fuel costs are considered. A sensitivity analysis is used and demonstrates that on-board monitoring systems are economically viable under a wide range of conditions. Results indicate that, for some fleet types, reducing crashes and improving hours of service recording, provides a net benefit of close to $300,000 over the five-year expected lifespan of the system. Furthermore, when exploring additional benefits such as reduced fuel consumption and reduced vehicle miles, benefits can be upwards of seven times more than safety-related benefits. This research also shows that net positive benefits are possible in large and small-sized fleets. Results can be used to inform policies for motivating or mandating carriers to use such systems and to inform carriers regarding the value of system investment.

Authors: Kelly A. Pitera
Recommended Citation:
Pitera, Kelly Ann. "Economic Implications of the Use of Technology in Commercial Vehicle Operations." PhD diss., 2012.
Thesis: Array
Paper

Guide for Conducting Benefit-Cost Analyses of Multimodal, Multijurisdictional Freight Corridor Investments

Publication: NCFRP Research Report
Volume: Project NCFRP-46
Publication Date: 2017
Summary:

This report provides a guidebook for conducting benefit-cost analyses of proposed infrastructure investments on multimodal, multi-jurisdictional freight corridors for public and private decision-makers and other stakeholders at local, state, regional, and national levels to arrive at more informed investment decisions.

The guidebook is a resource and a reference for multimodal freight investment benefit-cost analysis, data sources, procedures, and tools for projects of different geographic scales.

To help practitioners get started, the guidebook is presented in a “how to” format relying on discrete steps that are accompanied with realistic and recent examples, a fully worked out case study, checklists of dos and don’ts, and supporting worksheets.

View TRB Webinar: Benefit Cost Methodologies for Evaluating Multimodal Freight Corridor Investments

Authors: Dr. Anne Goodchild, Sharada Vadali, C. James Kruse, Kenneth Kuhn
Recommended Citation:
Vadali, Sharada, C. James Kruse, Kenneth Kuhn, and Anne Goodchild. Guide for Conducting Benefit-Cost Analyses of Multimodal, Multijurisdictional Freight Corridor Investments. No. Project NCFRP-46. 2017.