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Exploring shippers' motivations to adopt collaborative truck-sharing initiatives

Samsul Islam (Industrial Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada)
Mohammad Jasim Uddin (Department of Management, Sunway University, Selangor, Malaysia) (Department of Management, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia)
Yangyan Shi (School of Economics and Management, Shanxi University, Shanxi, China) (Department of Management, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia)
Taimur Sharif (Faculty of Arts, Society and Professional Studies, Newman University, Birmingham, UK)
Jashim Uddin Ahmed (Department of Management, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh)

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

ISSN: 0960-0035

Article publication date: 4 January 2021

Issue publication date: 27 May 2021

619

Abstract

Purpose

A seaport is an essential part of a supply chain, but many ports experience truck shortages, creating pressure for port authorities from shippers who need more trucks that move cargo. This study explores and ranks the motives for adopting a truck-sharing concept (where shippers share the same truck for delivery) as a mechanism to improve transport capacity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a multi-method approach – both interviews and surveys. Interviews are first conducted with shippers to explore truck-sharing usage motives. Next, quantitative surveys of both shippers and carriers are conducted to rank those motives.

Findings

The study identifies five motives (operational efficiency goal, quick transport solution, sustainability policy, convenience-seeking behavior and secure transport process) for truck-sharing, four critical transport attributes (lower charges for freight, distance travelled, full capacity utilization and environmental recognition), four psychological consequences (monetary savings, greater safety, instant availability of trips and clarification of environmental values), and six core values (secure transport process, being careful of money, ease of doing business, sustainability, status in the community and recognition by customers of shippers).

Research limitations/implications

The qualitative results will help researchers better understand how usage motives influence shippers' willingness to share a truck for transport needs. The quantitative results are useful for ranking truck-sharing motives by their importance.

Practical implications

Based on the findings, managers of carriers can categorize shippers according to their specific needs and thereby customize promotions to attract more shippers.

Originality/value

The findings provide the first, exploratory insights into shippers' motives.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This research is partially funded by The Maritime Risk and Safety Group (MARS) at Dalhousie University. Also, Dr. Samsul Islam thanks to InterResearch, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Moreover, Dr. Yangyan Shi thanks the key fund programme for the Scientific Activities of Selected Returned Overseas Professionals in Shanxi Province [2018, RSC1617] and the programme for the Top Young Academic Leaders of Higher Learning Institutions of Shanxi [TYAL, 2019052009].Corrigendum: It has come to the attention of the publisher that the Islam, S., Uddin, M.J., Shi, P., Sharif, T. and Ahmed, J.U. (2020), “Exploring shippers’ motivations to adopt collaborative truck-sharing initiatives”, published in International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, previously listed the author Yangyan Shi as Peter Shi and listed an incorrect affiliation for this author. This has now been updated online. The authors sincerely apologise for this.

Citation

Islam, S., Uddin, M.J., Shi, Y., Sharif, T. and Ahmed, J.U. (2021), "Exploring shippers' motivations to adopt collaborative truck-sharing initiatives", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 51 No. 5, pp. 528-550. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-10-2019-0303

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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