Cargo Hitching

Combining passenger and freight flows creates attractive business opportunities, because the same transportation needs can be met with fewer vehicles and drivers. Keeping socially desirable transport options economically viable in rural areas with declining populations, reducing congestion and air pollution and facilitating the introduction of electric vehicles in urban areas. This project will design integrated passenger and freight synchromodal transportation networks and the related coordination (4C), planning and scheduling policies for efficient and reliable delivery of both passengers and small to medium-sized freight volumes.

High/Low Density
Substantial growth and new business models are required to meet increasing freight volumes due to the growth in Internet shopping and improved mode utilization (both in time and fill rate). Two high-potential areas are: High-density areas, where congestion and pollution problems can be alleviated through combining passenger and freight requiring fewer vehicles, and Low-density areas, where combining passengers and freight maintains economically viable public and freight transportation at socially acceptable levels.

This project analyses and quantifies potential and necessary conditions, tools and methods for successfully integrated passenger and freight synchromodal networks. Identifying strategic, tactical and operational decision-making problems and specific joint research issues. These issues are risk management and gain sharing, pin-pointing enablers (related to ICT and data) and proof of concept leading to demonstration.

Out of the Box
Only new out-of-the-box ideas will facilitate significant steps forward in logistics. This project has the potential to develop smarter transport through better integration of passengers and freight modes. New technology and real-time availability of information make this an achievable possibility.

Business case
A number of business cases will be developed, leading to innovative pilots and possibly implemented new business models. With long-term benefits for all participants and generating significant added value in innovative logistics for the Netherlands.