IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i15p8622-d607108.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluating the Effects of the A-Double Vehicle Combinations If Introduced to a Line-Haul Freight Transport Network

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmed Karam

    (Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
    Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering at Shoubra, Benha University, Cairo 11629, Egypt)

  • Kristian Hegner Reinau

    (Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark)

Abstract

One of the solutions to improve the eco-efficiency of road freight transport is to combine existing transport modules into Longer and/or Heavier Vehicles (LHVs). The scientific and industrial communities have paid increasing attention to an LHV, known as the A-double combination, consisting of a tractor, two 13.5-m semitrailers, and a dolly converter. The present research contributes to the existing literature by developing a methodology based on a cost-benefit approach to quantify the effects of the A-double combinations if introduced to a line-haul transport system. Four implementation scenarios and sensitivity analyses of main variables were evaluated within a case study of 48,472 line-haul trips in Denmark. The results indicate that in the least beneficial scenario, the A-double combinations reduce transport cost by 9.65% while reducing trips, CO 2 emissions, and road wear by 17.91%, 5.34%, and 9.55%, respectively. Besides, the use of A-double combinations can significantly reduce empty tractor-semitrailer trips. However, the benefits are relatively less in the case of just-in-time deliveries and cargo constrained by vehicle weight. Also, cost saving is highly sensitive to driver salaries, fuel prices, and driving speeds. This research provides valuable insights into the potentials of A-double combinations under different regulations and freight characteristics from a micro perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed Karam & Kristian Hegner Reinau, 2021. "Evaluating the Effects of the A-Double Vehicle Combinations If Introduced to a Line-Haul Freight Transport Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8622-:d:607108
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/15/8622/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/15/8622/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guillaume Leduc, 2009. "Longer and Heavier Vehicles: An overview of technical aspects," JRC Research Reports JRC52392, Joint Research Centre.
    2. Rickard Bergqvist & Sönke Behrends, 2011. "Assessing the Effects of Longer Vehicles: The Case of Pre- and Post-haulage in Intermodal Transport Chains," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(5), pages 591-602.
    3. Heikki Liimatainen & Phil Greening & Pratyush Dadhich & Anna Keyes, 2018. "Possible Impact of Long and Heavy Vehicles in the United Kingdom—A Commodity Level Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Piecyk, Maja I. & McKinnon, Alan C., 2010. "Forecasting the carbon footprint of road freight transport in 2020," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(1), pages 31-42, November.
    5. Itf, 2019. "High Capacity Transport: Towards Safe, Efficient and Sustainable Road Freight," International Transport Forum Policy Papers 69, OECD Publishing.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Suhaib Alshayeb & Aleksandar Stevanovic & Nemanja Dobrota, 2021. "Impact of Various Operating Conditions on Simulated Emissions-Based Stop Penalty at Signalized Intersections," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-30, September.
    2. Yesica Pino & Juan L. Elorduy & Angel Gento, 2025. "Longer Truck to Reduce CO 2 Emissions: Study and Proposal Accepted for Analysis in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-19, June.

    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. Zuo, Chengchoa & Birkin, Mark & Clarke, Graham & McEvoy, Fiona & Bloodworth, Andrew, 2018. "Reducing carbon emissions related to the transportation of aggregates: Is road or rail the solution?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 26-38.
    2. Breen, Benjamin & Vega, Amaya & Feo-Valero, Maria, 2015. "An empirical analysis of mode and route choice for international freight transport in Ireland," Working Papers 262587, National University of Ireland, Galway, Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit.
    3. Ali Kaboli & Farzad Dadras Javan & Italo Aldo Campodonico Avendano & Behzad Najafi & Luigi Pietro Maria Colombo & Sara Perotti & Fabio Rinaldi, 2024. "Just-in-Time Morning Ramp-Up Implementation in Warehouses Enabled by Machine Learning-Based Predictive Modelling: Estimation of Achievable Energy Saving through Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Jane W Kiboi & Paul Katuse, Prof. & Zachary Mosoti, Prof., 2017. "Macroeconomic Determinants of Demand for Air Cargo Transport among Selected Airlines," European Journal of Business and Strategic Management, International Peer Review Journals and Books, vol. 2(6), pages 20-37.
    5. Xu Wang & Xiang Su & Ke Bi, 2023. "Achieving Synergies of Carbon Emission Reduction, Cost Savings, and Asset Investments in China’s Industrial Sector: Towards Sustainable Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Di Wang & Weihua Liu & Yanjie Liang, 2024. "Green innovation in logistics service supply chain: the impacts of relationship strength and overconfidence," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 343(3), pages 949-979, December.
    7. Xi Xie & Wenjia Cai & Yongkai Jiang & Weihua Zeng, 2015. "Carbon Footprints and Embodied Carbon Flows Analysis for China’s Eight Regions: A New Perspective for Mitigation Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-17, July.
    8. Wu, Peng & Jin, Ying & Shi, Yongjiang & Shyu, Hawfeng, 2017. "The impact of carbon emission costs on manufacturers' production and location decision," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 193-206.
    9. Dekker, Rommert & Bloemhof, Jacqueline & Mallidis, Ioannis, 2012. "Operations Research for green logistics – An overview of aspects, issues, contributions and challenges," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 219(3), pages 671-679.
    10. Holden, R. & Xu, B. & Greening, P. & Piecyk, M. & Dadhich, P., 2016. "Towards a common measure of greenhouse gas related logistics activity using data envelopment analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 105-119.
    11. Hans Jakob Walnum & Carlo Aall & Søren Løkke, 2014. "Can Rebound Effects Explain Why Sustainable Mobility Has Not Been Achieved?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-28, December.
    12. Meng, Ming & Niu, Dongxiao & Shang, Wei, 2014. "A small-sample hybrid model for forecasting energy-related CO2 emissions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 673-677.
    13. Ozen, Murat & Tuydes-Yaman, Hediye, 2013. "Evaluation of emission cost of inefficiency in road freight transportation in Turkey," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 625-636.
    14. Mohammadi, M. & Torabi, S.A. & Tavakkoli-Moghaddam, R., 2014. "Sustainable hub location under mixed uncertainty," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 89-115.
    15. Emami Javanmard, M. & Tang, Y. & Wang, Z. & Tontiwachwuthikul, P., 2023. "Forecast energy demand, CO2 emissions and energy resource impacts for the transportation sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    16. Soares Dias, Ana Paula & Bernardo, Joana & Felizardo, Pedro & Neiva Correia, Maria Joana, 2012. "Biodiesel production over thermal activated cerium modified Mg-Al hydrotalcites," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 344-353.
    17. Mustapa, Siti Indati & Bekhet, Hussain Ali, 2016. "Analysis of CO2 emissions reduction in the Malaysian transportation sector: An optimisation approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 171-183.
    18. repec:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:special1:p:1152-1177 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Yesica Pino & Juan L. Elorduy & Angel Gento, 2025. "Longer Truck to Reduce CO 2 Emissions: Study and Proposal Accepted for Analysis in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-19, June.
    20. Wang Jie & Rabnawaz Khan, 2024. "Breaking the CO 2 Gridlock: Can Renewables Lead the Way for the OECD?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-29, September.
    21. De Borger, Bruno & Mulalic, Ismir, 2012. "The determinants of fuel use in the trucking industry—volume, fleet characteristics and the rebound effect," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 284-295.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8622-:d:607108. 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.