A study of freight performance and carrier strategy
Name
1014340588-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
10.55 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
0b7b304f12718d86c6a0e7d971563c49
Author(s)
Bleggi, Caroline C
Zhou, Frederick
Advisor(s)
Chris Caplice.
Date Issued
2017
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
This research analyzed freight performance to determine the groupings of attributes that influence carrier performance. Binary logistic regression and hierarchical clustering were used to identify individual and groupings of freight attributes that impacted performance success in terms of on time delivery, on time pick up, and first tender acceptance rate. From the analysis, three main performance groups of carriers were identified and their subsequent underlying attributes and strategies were analyzed. This research confirmed industry belief that differing strategies and freight profile roles result in different performance, specifically that more focused carriers tend to provide better service than unfocused carriers. Insights for shippers were gleaned from the analysis and comparison of a different shippers' carrier portfolios. From this, diversified portfolios with a higher proportion of more focused carriers were shown to have stronger performance. The significance of this research is that it offers a strategic review of groups of freight attributes that contribute to performance outcome. Within this strategic review, carriers were shown to have different underlying roles within shippers' portfolios which may suggest the need of different ways of measuring their performance.
Description
Thesis: M. Eng. in Supply Chain Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Supply Chain Management Program, 2017.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 76-77).
Subjects
Supply Chain Management Program.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Supply Chain Management Program
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MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.
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