Characterizing Oregon's supply chains.

PDFTech ReportSPR 739Freight transportationFreight trafficSupply chain managementCommodity flowMathematical modelsVehicle fleetsOregonOregon. Dept. of Transportation. Research UnitGoodchild, AnneGagliano, AndreaRowell, MauraUniversity of WashingtonUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationNTL-FREIGHT-FREIGHTNTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-ECONOMICS AND FINANCEUS Transportation CollectionIn many regions throughout the world, freight models are used to aid infrastructure investment andpolicy decisions. Since freight is such an integral part of efficient supply chains, more realistictransportation models can be of greater assistance. Transportation models in general have been movingaway from the traditional four-step model into activity-based and supply chain-based models. Personaltransportation models take into consideration household demographics and why families travel.Freight research has yet to fully identify the relationships between truck movements and companycharacteristics, so most freight models use the methodology of personal transportation models, despitesituational differences. In an effort to classify freight companies into groupings with differentiatedtravel movements, a survey of licensed motor carriers was designed and conducted in Oregon. Thesurvey consisted of 33 questions. Respondents were asked about their vehicle fleets, locations served,times traveled, types of deliveries, and commodities. An analysis of the data revealed clusters ofcompany types that can be distinguished by determining characteristics such as their role in a supplychain, facilities operated, commodity type, and vehicle types. An assessment of how the relationshipsfound can be integrated into state models is also presented