Evaluating the performance of freight transport: A service approach

Abstract

Background and aim The objective of this paper is to develop an alternative framework for evaluation of performance in freight transport, based on heterodox service economics. Traditionally, transport performance is analysed through productivity measures, even though the conceptual, methodological and practical problems of these indicators are well established in the literature. Methods The paper develops and applies a typology of transport service configurations. The empirical analysis uses data from a large scale transport survey and from case studies in France. Result The result of this analysis is an array of performance indicators, each one corresponding to specific types of transport services. Conclusion We conclude that there is not a single way of achieving performance in freight transport, but a variety of service configurations, each of them having a particular logic of performance. © European Conference of Transport Research Institutes (ECTRI) 2009.