Opportunities to exploit capacity reserves of the hinterland connection to road transport

Abstract

Looking at the modal split for hinterland transport of most big seaport container terminals of the north range, the average portion of the truck is 63%. Hence, road transport is the dominating mode concerning hinterland connections. In order to organize efficient cargo flows at the terminal and to provide a good service to its customers, the terminal operator could take several measures to create a good hinterland connection to road transport. For example, a better integration and usage of information technology may improve data quality resulting in more efficient truck handling at the terminal. Furthermore, slot booking systems and pre-gates may smooth the load curve over a day and help reduce congestion on the road. In addition, together with other stakeholders the terminal operator could contribute to the development of truck guidance systems and support other transport modes to discharge the road capacity. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.