The Empty Truck Trips Problem at Container Terminals: An Exploration of Potential Alternative Solutions

Ports globally face intensifying pressure due to capacity constraints and chronic operational inefficiencies, yet a significant portion of hinterland transport capacity remains critically underutilized. This study addresses the existing research gap concerning the lack of an integrated perspective on empty truck movements by synthesizing interdisciplinary solutions from maritime logistics and supply chain collaboration. Grounded in a theory-driven approach utilizing the resource-based view, we systematically explore and categorize diverse concepts including chassis exchange terminals, street-turn strategies, and collaborative logistics networks. An extensive synthesis of academic and industry-related studies was conducted to formulate a hierarchical framework of vehicle operations that can be applied to port strategy formulation. Our results identify a strategic roadmap for sustainable port capacity management, demonstrating how analogies like code-sharing and collaborative transportation management can be successfully adapted to minimize unutilized trips. We conclude that transitioning from fragmented operations to an integrated, multi-disciplinary strategy is essential for optimizing hinterland transport chains. This research provides a significant original contribution by offering the first unified framework for the empty truck problem, providing port authorities and maritime stakeholders with a robust strategic toolkit to enhance operational resilience, resource efficiency, and long-term sustainability in the global supply chain.