Real-time information for operational disruption management in hinterland road transport

Journal article, 2020

Port hinterland transport literature has previously taken mainly a port perspective of operational disruption, for example delays or congestion, and as such lacks understanding of how real-time information can contribute to management of operational disruption outside the port. Therefore, the purpose of the paper is to explore real-time information for operational disruption management in road hinterland transport. A qualitative single case study approach is adopted at a logistics service provider responsible for road hinterland transport. The findings show improvement potential in disruption management by applying real-time information. Mainly issues related to the detection of disruption are highlighted to generate insufficiencies for the operational disruption management. Furthermore, the focus of real-time information for the impact on goods flow, rather than disruptions in the surrounding environment of transport operations, was found to limit disruption management. The paper intends to contribute to the hinterland transport literature by broadening the understanding for management of operational disruption through use of real-time information.