Developing a Container Freight Information System to Understand Container Truck Traffic in Inland Port Cities
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Developing a Container Freight Information System to Understand Container Truck Traffic in Inland Port Cities By Garreth Rempel, P.Eng. A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Civil Engineering University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Copyright © 2011 by Garreth Rempel ABSTRACT Container freight is an important component of the transportation system yet there is little understanding about this issue. This research develops an information system to assist transportation engineers and planners understand container freight transportation in the Canadian Prairie Region. The research conducts a transportation systems analysis to provide information about regional transportation, demand, and flow characteristics of container freight. It also designs, develops, and applies a container truck model to provide information about urban container truck traffic activity. The analysis and model reveal issues that should be considered in defining, evaluating, and choosing among alternative options to improve urban container freight transportation. The transportation systems analysis reveals the following issues affecting regional container freight. The Panama Canal expansion has the capability of altering container freight using the mini land bridge between West and East coast ports although the Port of Prince Rupert is emerging as a legitimate option to the Panama Canal. Railroads are developing integrated logistics centres which often involve relocating intermodal terminals and introducing major container generators to a city. Railroads are operating longer container trains and making fewer stops at prairie cities; however, these cities are developing inland ports to attract international freight. This research produces the first urban container truck traffic model to help overcome insufficient data and information in this area. It comprises defining a container truck network, acquiring container truck traffic data, and estimating container truck traffic volumes. The model is applied to the City of Winnipeg although the following issues are expected to be similar in other prairie cities. The research reveals issues regarding the temporal, spatial distribution, and physical characteristics of container trucks. Overall, about 13 percent of articulated trucks carry i containers; however, corridors with high articulated truck volumes do not necessarily have high container truck volumes. Weekend articulated truck traffic volumes are nearly one-quarter of weekday volumes whereas Sunday container truck volumes are similar to weekday volumes. Container truck volumes peak during the midday while articulated truck volumes exhibit an a.m. and p.m. peak. The split between tridem and tandem axle semitrailers is 80/20 for container trucks. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS On the path to this destination I received the love, support, and constructive criticism from many important people in my life. Here they are, from beginning to end. My parents: thank you for providing the foundation to become the person I am today and equipping me with the skills and attitude to accomplish my goals. Your continued love and support is invaluable. My wife and son: Giancarla, thank you for who you are and all that you do. I cannot overstate how lucky I am to have you. Jackson, you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am so proud of you. You are the most important people in my life. I love you both. My advisor, Jeannette, and my professor, Alan: I couldn’t hand-pick better people to shape me as a professional. Your fingerprints are all over everything that I do and accomplish. Thanks for raising the bar so high and letting me stand on your shoulders to reach it. My colleagues, past and present, at the University of Manitoba Transport Information Group: I am truly privileged to have met each of you. Beyond colleagues, I consider each of you lifelong friends. In particular I want to acknowledge Jonathan Regehr and Scott Minty. You’ve contributed more than you know and influence me daily. My examining committee: Dr Balakrishnan, Dr Hildebrand, and Professor Clayton, thank you for guiding me through this research. Your input and advice are greatly appreciated. I wish to acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Transportation Association of Canada, the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers, and the University of Manitoba Faculty of Graduate Studies. I am also grateful to the trucking industry for assistance in my research. Lastly I want to thank my friends and family for sticking with me during this journey. Despite my frequent reclusiveness you haven’t abandoned me. I look forward to making up for lost time. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................. III TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................... IV LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. VII LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................. IX 1.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 1 1.1. The Research ...............................................................................................................1 1.2. Background and Need ................................................................................................1 1.3. Research Objectives and Scope .................................................................................3 1.4. Research Approach.....................................................................................................5 1.5. Thesis Organization ....................................................................................................9 1.6. Glossary of Terms .....................................................................................................10 2.0 CONTAINER FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ................................ 13 2.1. Containers .................................................................................................................13 2.2. Transportation System Infrastructure ...................................................................15 2.2.1. Infrastructure and Modes of Transportation ................................................. 15 2.3. Container Freight Transportation Process ............................................................28 2.3.1. International Container Freight Movements ................................................. 29 2.3.2. Urban Container Freight Movements ........................................................... 31 2.4. Policies and Regulations ...........................................................................................34 2.4.1. Cabotage ....................................................................................................... 34 2.4.2. Productivity Issues Associated with Container Standards and Truck Size and Weight Regulations ................................................................................ 35 2.4.3. International Containers Operating on U.S. Highways ................................ 41 2.5. Developments in the Canadian Prairie Region ......................................................45 iv 2.5.1. Manitoba ....................................................................................................... 46 2.5.2. Saskatchewan ................................................................................................ 50 2.5.3. Alberta .......................................................................................................... 55 2.6. Technologies for Container Truck Traffic Data Collection ..................................59 2.7. Chapter Summary ....................................................................................................60 3.0 CONTAINER FREIGHT MOVEMENTS IN THE CANADIAN PRAIRIE REGION .................................................................................................................... 62 3.1. Container Freight Flows ..........................................................................................62 3.2. Container Commodities ...........................................................................................65 3.3. Chapter Summary ....................................................................................................69 4.0 DEVELOPING A MODEL TO ESTIMATE URBAN CONTAINER TRUCK VOLUME................................................................................................................... 70 4.1. Container Truck Model Characteristics .................................................................70 4.1.1. Model Scope ................................................................................................. 71 4.1.2. Model Features ............................................................................................. 72 4.1.3. Model Characteristics ................................................................................... 72 4.2. Components of the Model