Skip to content
Urban Freight Lab

Research Topic: Border Operations and Cross-border Transportation

Border operations and cross-border transportation involve the management of the activities, infrastructures, and flows that support the passage of passengers and freight across an international border.

Student Thesis and Dissertations

Pacific Highway Commercial Vehicle Operations: Border Policy and Logistical Efficiency in a Regional Context (MS Thesis)

URL: https://alliance-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/kjtuig/CP71178543410001451
Publication Date: 2010
Summary:

Activities of commercial vehicles just prior to or just following international border crossings are not well understood. Logistical responses to border crossings are believed to increase empty miles traveled, travel times and total vehicle emissions. Analysis of observational data and surveys taken by commercial carriers at the Cascade Gateway border crossings (between Whatcom County, Washington State and Lower British Columbia) improves understanding of the manner by and extent to which the border and the associated policies and regulations impact logistics operations near the border. Findings suggest that the border creates logistical incentives for trucks to both deadhead (cross the border without carrying goods as part of a cross-border round trip journey) and make staging stops near the border for border-related transloading. Policies such as cabotage laws and the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program are both believed to increase the negative logistical incentives which the border creates. This thesis examines how these policies negatively impact logistical efficiency and suggests avenues to explore policy reform.

Authors: Matthew Klein
Recommended Citation:
Klein, Matthew (2010). Pacific Highway Commercial Vehicle Operations: Border Policy and Logistical Efficiency in a Regional Context, University of Washington Master's Degree Thesis.
Thesis: Array
Chapter

Pacific Highway Commercial Vehicle Operations: Border Policy and Logistical Efficiency in a Regional Context (TRR)

 
Download PDF  (2.62 MB)
URL: https://doi.org/10.3141/2238-03
Publication: Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Volume: 2238
Pages: 15-23
Publication Date: 2014
Summary:

Activities of commercial vehicles just before or just following international border crossings are not well understood. Logistical responses to border crossings are believed to increase miles traveled empty, total travel times, and total vehicle emissions. Analysis of observational data and surveys taken by commercial carriers at the Cascade Gateway border crossings (between Whatcom County, Washington, in the United States and lower British Columbia in Canada) improves understanding of how the border and associated policies and regulations affect logistics operations, both in manner and in scope. Findings suggest that the border creates logistical incentives for trucks to deadhead (cross the border without carrying goods as part of a cross-border round-trip journey) and to make staging stops near the border for border-related transloading. The Free and Secure Trade program, as observed in the Cascade Gateway region, unintentionally amplifies the existing negative logistical incentives created by the border.

Authors: Dr. Anne Goodchild, Matt Klein
Recommended Citation:
Klein, Matthew, and Anne Goodchild. "Pacific highway commercial vehicle operations: border policy and logistical efficiency in a regional context." Transportation Research Record 2238, no. 1 (2011): 15-23.