IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i24p16836-d1300027.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Real-Life Synchromodality Challenges: A Qualitative Study in Flanders

Author

Listed:
  • Mylena Cristine Rodrigues de Jesus

    (Department of Transport and Regional Economics, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Edwin van Hassel

    (Department of Transport and Regional Economics, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Thierry Vanelslander

    (Department of Transport and Regional Economics, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

Abstract

The search for more sustainable freight transport has been the focus in the last decades. In this way, the concept of synchromodality was built considering the collaboration of shippers and logistic service providers to enable real-time switching between transport modes and mode-free transport bookings, encouraging more flexible and sustainable freight transportation. However, there are several challenges to its implementation in real life, which is the focus of this paper. To achieve this, in addition to a literature study, a case study was conducted in Flanders, using a combination of qualitative methods, i.e., focus groups (FG) and expert interviews, aiming to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Challenges such as real-time decision making, limited infrastructure capacity, and the need for stakeholder collaboration were emphasized. Expert insights highlight the need for a forecast-based approach to facilitate mode shift decisions, particularly from roadway to inland waterway transport (IWT). The analysis underscores the potential benefits of the proposed synchromodal technology while acknowledging the requirements needed to make it real.

Suggested Citation

  • Mylena Cristine Rodrigues de Jesus & Edwin van Hassel & Thierry Vanelslander, 2023. "Real-Life Synchromodality Challenges: A Qualitative Study in Flanders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16836-:d:1300027
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16836/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16836/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, M. & Pel, A.J., 2016. "Synchromodal hinterland freight transport: Model study for the port of Rotterdam," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1-10.
    2. Rentschler, J. & Elbert, R. & Weber, F., 2022. "Promoting Sustainability through Synchromodal Transportation: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Fields of Research," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 134691, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    3. Sakti, Sekar & Zhang, Lele & Thompson, Russell G., 2023. "Synchronization in synchromodality," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    4. SteadieSeifi, M. & Dellaert, N.P. & Nuijten, W. & Van Woensel, T. & Raoufi, R., 2014. "Multimodal freight transportation planning: A literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 233(1), pages 1-15.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sakti, Sekar & Zhang, Lele & Thompson, Russell G., 2023. "Synchronization in synchromodality," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    2. Johannes Rentschler & Ralf Elbert & Felix Weber, 2022. "Promoting Sustainability through Synchromodal Transportation: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Fields of Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Hilde Heggen & Yves Molenbruch & An Caris & Kris Braekers, 2019. "Intermodal Container Routing: Integrating Long-Haul Routing and Local Drayage Decisions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-36, March.
    4. Beatriz Acero & Maria Jesus Saenz & Davide Luzzini, 2022. "Introducing synchromodality: One missing link between transportation and supply chain management," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 58(1), pages 51-64, January.
    5. Ângela F. Brochado & Eugénio M. Rocha & Diogo Costa, 2024. "A Modular IoT-Based Architecture for Logistics Service Performance Assessment and Real-Time Scheduling towards a Synchromodal Transport System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-22, January.
    6. Giusti, Riccardo & Manerba, Daniele & Bruno, Giorgio & Tadei, Roberto, 2019. "Synchromodal logistics: An overview of critical success factors, enabling technologies, and open research issues," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 92-110.
    7. Qu, Wenhua & Rezaei, Jafar & Maknoon, Yousef & Tavasszy, Lóránt, 2019. "Hinterland freight transportation replanning model under the framework of synchromodality," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 308-328.
    8. Jacobsson, Stefan & Arnäs, Per Olof & Stefansson, Gunnar, 2018. "Differentiation of access management services at seaport terminals: Facilitating potential improvements for road hauliers," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 256-264.
    9. Tavasszy, Lóránt A., 2020. "Predicting the effects of logistics innovations on freight systems: Directions for research," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1-6.
    10. Jiahao Zhao & Xiaoning Zhu & Li Wang, 2020. "Study on Scheme of Outbound Railway Container Organization in Rail-Water Intermodal Transportation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, February.
    11. Archetti, Claudia & Peirano, Lorenzo & Speranza, M. Grazia, 2022. "Optimization in multimodal freight transportation problems: A Survey," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 299(1), pages 1-20.
    12. Dan Liu & Zhenghong Deng & Qipeng Sun & Yong Wang & Yinhai Wang, 2019. "Design and Freight Corridor-Fleet Size Choice in Collaborative Intermodal Transportation Network Considering Economies of Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, February.
    13. Qian Dai & Jiaqi Yang & Dong Li, 2018. "Modeling a Three-Mode Hybrid Port-Hinterland Freight Intermodal Distribution Network with Environmental Consideration: The Case of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-26, August.
    14. Ben-Ammar, Oussama & Bettayeb, Belgacem & Dolgui, Alexandre, 2019. "Optimization of multi-period supply planning under stochastic lead times and a dynamic demand," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 106-117.
    15. Babagolzadeh, Mahla & Zhang, Yahua & Abbasi, Babak & Shrestha, Anup & Zhang, Anming, 2022. "Promoting Australian regional airports with subsidy schemes: Optimised downstream logistics using vehicle routing problem," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 38-51.
    16. Zhang, M. & Pel, A.J., 2016. "Synchromodal hinterland freight transport: Model study for the port of Rotterdam," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1-10.
    17. Wu, Xin (Bruce) & Lu, Jiawei & Wu, Shengnan & Zhou, Xuesong (Simon), 2021. "Synchronizing time-dependent transportation services: Reformulation and solution algorithm using quadratic assignment problem," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 140-179.
    18. SteadieSeifi, M. & Dellaert, N.P. & Nuijten, W. & Van Woensel, T., 2017. "A metaheuristic for the multimodal network flow problem with product quality preservation and empty repositioning," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 321-344.
    19. Leonard Heilig & Stefan Voß, 0. "Information systems in seaports: a categorization and overview," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-23.
    20. Kazemi, Yasaman & Szmerekovsky, Joseph, 2015. "Modeling downstream petroleum supply chain: The importance of multi-mode transportation to strategic planning," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 111-125.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16836-:d:1300027. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.