Estimating carbon emissions from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments

Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Veloso de Aguiar, Guilherme, Woolard, Mark Anderson
Other Authors: Edgar Blanco.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92121
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author Veloso de Aguiar, Guilherme
Woolard, Mark Anderson
author2 Edgar Blanco.
author_facet Edgar Blanco.
Veloso de Aguiar, Guilherme
Woolard, Mark Anderson
author_sort Veloso de Aguiar, Guilherme
collection MIT
description Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.
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spelling mit-1721.1/921212019-04-12T21:51:27Z Estimating carbon emissions from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments Veloso de Aguiar, Guilherme Woolard, Mark Anderson Edgar Blanco. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division. Engineering Systems Division. Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 86-88). Less-than-truckload (LTL) is a $32-billion sector of the trucking industry that focuses on moving smaller shipments, typically with weights between 100 and 10,000 pounds, that do not require a full trailer to be moved. Currently, there are no widely accepted methods to estimate carbon emissions from LTL shipments which take into account all the complexities of a typical LTL network. This thesis seeks to address this issue by suggesting a methodology that allows different parties to estimate the emissions of individual LTL shipments with minimal input information. Throughout this research, we worked with C. H. Robinson, a Third-Party Logistics Provider (3PL), and Estes Express Lines, a privately-owned freight transportation company, and analyzed more than 1.5 million shipments. We developed two calculation tools: a detailed model, specifically designed for and based on Estes Express' network and operations, and a lower-precision generic model, adapted from the detailed one so that it could be applied to carriers whose network characteristics are unknown. We also assessed current estimation methods and found that they tend to underestimate the emissions from LTL shipments primarily because (1) they rely on direct over-the-road distances as opposed to actual shipped distances, which must include the intermediate stops, and (2) they fail to factor in the pick-up and delivery (P&D) sections, focusing solely on line haul operations. Therefore, while existing initiatives such as the GHG Protocol and the EPA SmartWay program provide guidance on how to estimate carbon emissions from transportation in general, the LTL industry still needs a specific approach that takes into account all of its unique characteristics. This thesis provides a contribution in that direction by suggesting a methodology to better estimate the carbon emissions of individual LTL shipments. by Guilherme Veloso de Aguiar and Mark Anderson Woolard. M. Eng. in Logistics 2014-12-08T18:50:20Z 2014-12-08T18:50:20Z 2014 2014 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92121 895888653 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 88 pages application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Engineering Systems Division.
Veloso de Aguiar, Guilherme
Woolard, Mark Anderson
Estimating carbon emissions from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments
title Estimating carbon emissions from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments
title_full Estimating carbon emissions from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments
title_fullStr Estimating carbon emissions from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments
title_full_unstemmed Estimating carbon emissions from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments
title_short Estimating carbon emissions from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments
title_sort estimating carbon emissions from less than truckload ltl shipments
topic Engineering Systems Division.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92121
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