Logistics Session 2

Question 1

What are the different definitions of unimodal and intermodal transportation?

Answer 1

Multimodal transportation (1980): 2 or more modes used to ship a good
Intermodal transport (1987): integrated chain loading units door-to-door, requiring a standardization in size
Combined transport (2001): reaching minimum amounts of pre and post haulage
Co-modal transport (2006): focus on efficienty
Synchromodal transport: using real time information to make decisions about modal choice

Question 2

What is the intermodal transport chain

Answer 2

prehaul –> intermodal main haul –> maritime lag –> intermodal main haul –> intermodal post haul. This class focuses on the last 2 stages

Question 3

What are the main transport involved in the last 2 stages of the intermodal transport chain?

Answer 3

Barges, short sea shipping vessels, railway transport and trucks

Question 4

What is the difference between transport modes and transport means?

Answer 4

Transport modes = railways, inland water ways, and roads

Transport means = trains, barges, and trucks

Question 5

What are the different ‘waves’/market segments of inland waterway transport?

Answer 5

1st wave – barges
2nd wave – containers
3rd wave – palletized goods

Question 6

What is the difference between a skipper and a shipper?

Answer 6

The shipper is the customer whose good are being shipped, while the skipper is the captain of a barge (that who does the shipping)

Question 7

What is the intermodal cost structure?

Answer 7

See and study graph on slide 22

Question 8

What are some of the determinants of handling costs?

Answer 8

Handling capacity, surface area and utilization rates. As terminals get larger and work at max capacity, the cheaper the price will become

Question 9

What are break even distances?

Answer 9

Distances from which the cost of handling will be able to be profitable. For trains, this is 300km. Likely to be a question on the exam about this

Question 10

What are the quality factors that determine which mode will be chosen? (name them in order)

Answer 10

Market price, reliability, time, frequency, safety/absence of losses, flexibility and customer satisfaction

Question 11

What is the primary goal of the EU in regards to intermodal transportation? What are the barriers?

Answer 11

To achieve a fully integrated intermodal system, and to shift away from road freight to inland waterways and rail. But, barrier include: too slow, insufficient frequency, too unreliable, and uncertainty in flexibility

Question 12

Why pursue intermodal transport?

Answer 12

reduction in transport costs over long distances, has environmental benefits, and spurs job creations/economic development

Question 13

what needs to be done in order to achieve intermodal transport systems?

Answer 13

Liberalize competition, induce modal shift to sea ports, and internalize the true costs of road transport. For infrastructure: increase port connectivity to hinterlands/cities, spur innovation/R&D to make technologies as efficient as possible. Expand the rail network.

Question 14

What is synchromodality?

Answer 14

Modal choices carried out in real time, based on moment-of information. It is still intermodal, but with the added dimension of allowing to factor in things like congestion, weather and events. It gives intermodality more dynamism

Question 15

Why do we need transport models?

Answer 15

models allow us to test logistical solutions in a risk-free space. They mimick the real world using different levels of abstraction

Question 16

What are the 3 different levels of abstraction, and what planning horizons are they associated with?

Answer 16

Low –> least abstract, reality is kept as close to reality. Very specific and detailed. Operational horizon
Medium –> less abstract. Tactical horizon
High –> minimum details, phenomena are aggregated. Strategic horizon.

Question 17

What is LAMBIT?

Answer 17

Location analysis model for Belgian intermodal terminals. Can show how modal choices would shift if all external costs were internalized. It is a strategic model which uses high levels of abstraction, therefore best used for long term planning horizons

Question 18

What is SYMBIT?

Answer 18

Synchromodal model for Belgian inland transport. It provides real time synchromodal simulations, it is scalable and transferable, it has decentralized routing strategies, and ability to evaluate asset movements based on disruptions. Applied to 2 case studies: (1) interregional flows, and (2) urban flows. It is somewhere between a tactical and operational model, with low to medium levels of abstraction

Question 19

What are future developments for synchromodal transport?

Answer 19

Digital twin for synchromodal transport (DISpATch) will work with existing systems to connect models to the physical world. New propulsion systems for barges will make them more fuel efficient, and better designs will allow for more flexibility in offloading cargo at ports and other distribution points.