Transport cost: An aggregated model for surface freight transport based on cost components and market segments

Kurzfassung

Transport cost is one of the most decisive influencing factors for transport and logistics operations. Policy makers face the challenge that measures they implement to make transport more sustainable change transport costs, sometimes in a complex manner that requires detailed knowledge of cost structures. For single shipments the costs can be calculated in detail. However, on an aggregated level spanning numerous shipments or even the whole transport system this is rarely possible. Yet policy assessment relies on accurate cost estimates. It is therefore important to understand the relevance of simplifications and to consider for all effects the implementation of measures has on transport costs. In this contribution we analyse the structure of transport costs for railway, road, and inland waterway freight transport. A model is introduced that calculates distance dependent freight rates. It accounts for different market segments and differences between modes and is based on estimates of detailed cost components. The model is applied to different policy measures addressing modal shift to demonstrate their effect on transport costs. Transport costs are divided into components like personnel costs, vehicle costs, maintenance costs, energy costs, and handling fees. Different market segments (e.g. combined transport, bulk goods, general cargo) are distinguished. The model uses average costs of the various components (from vehicle costs to energy prices) based on data of the German transport market. Average utilisation and load factors of the relevant vehicle/train types are an important input to overall cost comparisons. The contribution will, hence, look at the sensitivity of the cost calculation to these often uncertain inputs, particularly those which require an in depth knowledge of the underlying transport system or of the decision framework of selected actors which is often not available and replaced by assumptions. The model results are validated against freight rates available in the literature. The systematic approach of the contribution facilitates transfer to different contexts and adaptation to different needs. The model is applied in freight transport modelling for policy assessments in Germany.