IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i8p3577-d1635775.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Trust Affects Hazardous Chemicals Logistics Enterprises’ Sustainable Safety Behavior: The Moderating Role of Government Governance

Author

Listed:
  • Li Hou

    (School of Economics and Management, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, China
    School of Economics and Management, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China)

  • Bin Yao

    (School of Economics and Management, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Yibo Hu

    (School of Economics and Management, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Keyi Yu

    (School of Economics and Management, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Kebiao Yuan

    (School of Economics and Management, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, China)

Abstract

Hazardous chemicals logistics (HCL) management improves safety and operational efficiency; however, the management process faces challenges, including safety hazards. Trust in the government is critical for shaping the sustainable and safe behavior of hazardous chemicals logistics enterprises (HCLEs). However, its interaction with governance mechanisms remains unclear, and a systematic categorization of governmental regulatory methods is lacking. To improve the relationship between HCLEs and the government, this study employs structural equation modeling to examine the effects of trust and governance mechanisms on HCLEs’ sustainable safety behavior. Trust is categorized into cognitive trust and affective trust based on trust and reinforcement theories, whereas government governance is divided into motivational and punitive governance. A conceptual trust–government governance–HCLEs’ behavior model that introduces government governance as a moderating variable is formulated. The results show that trust significantly improved HCLEs’ behavior; motivational governance positively moderated the impact on the relationship between trust and HCLEs’ behavior; and punitive governance failed. These results emphasize the importance of trust-based partnerships between governments and HCLEs, as well as motivational governance, in building compliance and improving safety. Moreover, this study expands our understanding of the interrelationships among trust, government governance, and HCLEs’ sustainable safety behavior in the HCL industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Hou & Bin Yao & Yibo Hu & Keyi Yu & Kebiao Yuan, 2025. "How Trust Affects Hazardous Chemicals Logistics Enterprises’ Sustainable Safety Behavior: The Moderating Role of Government Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3577-:d:1635775
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3577/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3577/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Patrice Marcotte & Anne Mercier & Gilles Savard & Vedat Verter, 2009. "Toll Policies for Mitigating Hazardous Materials Transport Risk," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 43(2), pages 228-243, May.
    2. Cross, John G, 1979. "Reinforcement Theory and the Consumer Model," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 61(2), pages 190-198, May.
    3. Kong, Dongmin & Piao, Yin & Zhang, Wenzhe & Liu, Chenhao & Zhao, Ying, 2023. "Trust and corporate social responsibility: Evidence from CEO’s early experience," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 585-596.
    4. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    5. Huo, Baofeng & Liu, Ruolei & Tian, Min, 2022. "The bright side of dependence asymmetry: Mitigating power use and facilitating relational ties," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    6. Johnson, Devon & Grayson, Kent, 2005. "Cognitive and affective trust in service relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 58(4), pages 500-507, April.
    7. Wenjie Sun, 2023. "The Devastating Health Consequences of the Ohio Derailment: A Closer Look at the Effects of Vinyl Chloride Spill," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-2, March.
    8. Chen, Shihua & Chen, Yulin & Jebran, Khalil, 2021. "Trust and corporate social responsibility: From expected utility and social normative perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 518-530.
    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. Matemba, Elizabeth D. & Li, Guoxin, 2018. "Consumers' willingness to adopt and use WeChat wallet: An empirical study in South Africa," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 55-68.
    2. Scarpi, Daniele & Pizzi, Gabriele & Raggiotto, Francesco & Mason, Michela, 2018. "A qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of satisfaction toward extreme sporting Events," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 358-368.
    3. Kazlauskienė Asta, 2018. "Industry Specifics and Consumers’ Reactions to Business Crises," Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 32(1), pages 5-20, December.
    4. Kim, Heetae & Park, Eunil & Kwon, Sang Jib & Ohm, Jay Y. & Chang, Hyun Joon, 2014. "An integrated adoption model of solar energy technologies in South Korea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 523-531.
    5. Liu, Yang & Zhang, Qianqian & Li, Jinda, 2023. "The informal hierarchy of board and stock price crash risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PC).
    6. Kalinic, Zoran & Marinkovic, Veljko & Molinillo, Sebastián & Liébana-Cabanillas, Francisco, 2019. "A multi-analytical approach to peer-to-peer mobile payment acceptance prediction," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 143-153.
    7. Maria Andersson & Ola Eriksson & Chris Von Borgstede, 2012. "The Effects of Environmental Management Systems on Source Separation in the Work and Home Settings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(6), pages 1-17, June.
    8. Tran Huy Phuong & Thanh Trung Hieu, 2015. "Predictors of Entrepreneurial Intentions of Undergraduate Students in Vietnam: An Empirical Study," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 5(8), pages 46-55, August.
    9. Clara Cardone-Riportella & María José Casasola-Martinez & Isabel Feito-Ruiz, 2014. "Do Entrepreneurs Come From Venus Or Mars? Impact Of Postgraduate Studies: Gender And Family Business Background," Working Papers 14.04, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Financial Economics and Accounting (former Department of Business Administration), revised Sep 2014.
    10. Peng Cheng & Zhe Ouyang & Yang Liu, 0. "The effect of information overload on the intention of consumers to adopt electric vehicles," Transportation, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    11. Ruijie Zhu & Guojing Zhao & Zehai Long & Yangjie Huang & Zhaoxin Huang, 2022. "Entrepreneurship or Employment? A Survey of College Students’ Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intentions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, May.
    12. Alsalem, Amani & Fry, Marie-Louise & Thaichon, Park, 2020. "To donate or to waste it: Understanding posthumous organ donation attitude," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 87-97.
    13. Pan, Jing Yu & Liu, Dahai, 2022. "Mask-wearing intentions on airplanes during COVID-19 – Application of theory of planned behavior model," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 32-44.
    14. Mohammed Akhmaaj, Asmaeil Ali & Sharif, Mohamed Omar, 2024. "The effects of planned behavior model constructs and technology acceptance model constructs on online purchasing behavior: An empirical study on internet users in the Libya city of Tripoli," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    15. Benoît Lécureux & Adrien Bonnet & Ouassim Manout & Jaâfar Berrada & Louafi Bouzouina, 2022. "Acceptance of Shared Autonomous Vehicles: A Literature Review of stated choice experiments," Working Papers hal-03814947, HAL.
    16. Jacqueline Ruth & Steffen Willwacher & Oliver Korn, 2022. "Acceptance of Digital Sports: A Study Showing the Rising Acceptance of Digital Health Activities Due to the SARS-CoV-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-16, January.
    17. Jariyasunant, Jerald & Carrel, Andre & Ekambaram, Venkatesan & Gaker, David & Sengupta, Raja & Walker, Joan L., 2012. "The Quantified Traveler: Changing transport behavior with personalized travel data feedback," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt3047k0dw, University of California Transportation Center.
    18. Brown, Philip & Roper, Simon, 2017. "Innovation and networks in New Zealand farming," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 61(3), July.
    19. Teodora Roman, 2009. "Study regarding entrepreneurial intentions among students," THE YEARBOOK OF THE "GH. ZANE" INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCHES, Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic and Social Research ( from THE ROMANIAN ACADEMY, JASSY BRANCH), vol. 18, pages 87-94.
    20. Messele Kumilachew Aga, 2023. "The mediating role of perceived behavioral control in the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Ethiopia," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.

    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:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3577-:d:1635775. 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.