PUBLICATION: INTEGRATED SYNCHROMODAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM ANALYSIS
PUBLICATIE: ANALYSE GEÏNTEGREERD SYNCHROMODAAL VERVOERSSYSTEEM

A more efficient use of assets in the logistics network, a better adoption of synchromodality and an increase of market chances. Just a few of the ambitions for the Isola project. Isola looks at synchromodal transport from the perspective of the customers; shippers and recipients of cargo. What are the benefits for them? Is price differentiation possible and how can planning be improved?

The Isola research has recently produced a number of interesting results. Some important findings on synchromodal transportation, include that:

• more than 60% of shippers are interested in synchromodal transportation, if they receive benefits in terms of better service or lower price.
• especially shippers operating in demand-volatile markets are interested in flexible synchromodal services.
• investments in transportation capacity can be reduced by exploiting synchromodal transportation.
• uncertainty of container arrival times is a major factor in transportation costs, and can be reduced by improved information sharing.
• the maximum number of calls in a port visit has a significant impact on barge costs, allowing for one additional call leads to an improvement of 7-15% for the barge operator.

These findings were the result of a scientific study by: Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, Erasmus University, and Rotterdam School of Management, supported by their partners European Gateway Services, Port of Rotterdam, and SmartPort. The work was funded by TKI Dinalog and NWO.

Some background on the findings and how they were achieved is given in the whitepaper that you can download here. Or check the presentations from the webinar in the youtube links below. For more information, do not hesitate to contact the authors noted in the whitepaper. Voor de Nederlandse vertaling van de whitepaper: klik hier.