Market Access Decisions in Regulated and Unregulated Markets

US Transportation Collection1993PDFResearch PaperWilson, Wesley W.Beilock, RichardNorth Dakota State UniversityUpper Great Plains Transportation InstituteUpper Great Plains Transportation InstituteUnited StatesAccessFreight transportationInterstate commerceMarketsRegulatory reformTruckingUGPTI Department Publication No. 96This study examines the effect of regulatory reform in the interstate trucking industry. In our model, carriers travel in round trips and choose to serve different markets corresponding to each leg of the trip. Some carriers have the regulatory authority to haul freight subject to regulation while other carriers do not. Unlike previous studies that focus on decisions to serve one leg of a trip, our model applies to firm decisions across multiple legs. As in previous studies, regulatory status, distance, location, and other attributes affect the likelihood that a carrier travels empty or loaded. However, we also find significant differences in the determinants of market access across markets. Entry regulation has a significant influence only in markets dominated by regulated traffic, whereas location has a significant influence only in markets dominated by unregulated traffic.127