Causes, Impacts and Implemented Changes of Network Capacity on Trucks

Causes, Impacts and Implemented Changes of Network Capacity on Trucks
Causes of Network Capacity on Trucks
Network Capacity is the probability that a particular network of roads can comfortably accommodate traffic demand to a certain degree. In the recent past, the transport sector across the globe has witnessed growing demand to investigate causes and limitation of road freight demands. One research conducted in the past aimed at fixing problems associated with network capacity on roads, rails, and water. One of the recent reports carried out in 12 European countries found that about 32% of all trips made by the tracks are empty whereas the percentage of loaded tracks remained constant at an average of 52% between 1992 and 2010 (Sullivan et al., 2010).
Network capacity utilization of tracks could be triggered by economic factors such as firms’ aims to optimize profitability and how market features affect utilization of the network. The degree of network capacity utilization by trucks is a clear indication of how economic resources are being geared towards economic development. The more the economy advances, the more the road network system will be loaded with trucks from one point to the other (Figliozzi, 2011). Commercial activities increase with increased production and distribution of commodities to their respective destination.
The distance between travel points in a network is another cause of network capacity. The number of Kilometers a track travels while carrying loads causes the network capacity of freight to experience congestion, as well as, dispersion.

When the distance is shorter, congestion of tracks in the roads will be experienced and whenever the distance traveled is short, there is less congestion of tracks on roads. Capacity is also caused by the number of times tracks are utilized for a specific time (Sullivan et al., 2010). For instance, trucks that travel more days, hours and weeks are regarded as having a higher network capacity than those used for fewer weeks annually.
Information technology leads to higher network capacity utilization by technically reducing the cost of searching and improving the alignment of vehicle capacity with the load. Information technology controls activities in the transport corridor and affects the time and rates involved in the movement of tracks. The information technology capability of tracks causes the network capacity of trucks to be more efficient and reliable. Advances in information technology are more likely to affect the network capacity in the future (McKinstry 2016).This factor will, however, be achieved if the technology if properly utilized in logistical context.
Government regulations are other determinants of network capacity for tracks. The governments have set various regulations about load capacity for trucks, and the distances tracks are supposed to travel. The government regulations may reduce congestion of tracks on a particular network thereby reducing the network capacity for the particular route. Government licensure and taxation for a particular route may restrict certain trucks carrying capacity from using the designated routes. When government licensure and taxation appears to be favorable in particular routes, such routes experience truck congestion, hence, a higher network capacity (Sullivan et al., 2010).
Impacts of Network Capacity on Trucks
The Impact of network capacity on tracks may not be realized in the short term but will experience at the end of trucks error. This is because of the limited exposure of trucks to excessive congestion where extra changes in travel time and reliability do not affect transport logistic. During the day, the road network is occupied with more automobiles than trucks. Trucks travel during the day is spread evenly, and at night, automobiles are fewer on the roads. This implies that changes in the network capacity induced to facilitate or limit peak-time automobile travel have an insignificant effect on track travel (Sullivan et al., 2010). However, the changed can result in significant effects in the long-term when the truck error will be replaced by automatic electric trains.
Implications of network capacity on the transport system are most likely to affect the economy in the long-run. Limitations of track travel may fail to meet the demands of a growing economy if the road network remains the same. Changing the travel schedule for tracks and also reducing the number of tracks in particular roads definitely, reduces movement of commodities. The economy goes down because producers do not meet customers’ value in the required time. Also, reduction in some track travel affects the labor market because potential track drivers may not have the opportunity to be employed in track industries. At the same time, reduced economic activities mean reduced employment opportunities ad most people will turn out to be jobless in the name of limiting the network capacity of truck travels (Sullivan et al., 2010).
However, pollution caused by the density of network in metropolitan areas is and on-going problem in the track travel industry. The problem of fuel emissions has triggered researchers to try coming up with electric trucks or harmless fuel products that would not pollute the environment. Regulation of day traveling of the tracks has reduced atmospheric pollution during the day and reduced respiratory conditions which are most likely to be contacted during the day in the busy streets (Figliozzi, 2011). The impacts of network capacity in human heath bare therefore an important factor in enforcing regulation of truck travels.
Changes Already Implemented to Fix Issues
Several changes have been implemented to fix network capacity issues. Plans are also underway to introduce Electronic Logging Devices for trucking companies. The policy, which is expected to begin implementation December next year, requires trucking companies to be installed with Electronic Logging Devices. The ELD will be synchronized with the truck engine enabling an automatic record of accurate driving times and hours of the service. The expected change of policy will cause the truck capacity to dwindle by the beginning of next year, and this capacity would be cut even more when the new policy takes root (McKinstry, 2016).
Plans have also been implemented to increase truck miles of travel and utilize much of the available capacity for the current travel of trucks. This phenomenon will cause continuous dispersion of metropolitan residents, and alter the network terminus of most metropolitan places. The value of land will also experience changes by the expansion of network terminus and adoption of the just-in-time strategy for production of goods. The idea to be implemented will serve the purpose of globalizing trade and result in increasing demand for long-term supply and distribution across networks (McKinstry, 2016).
The analysis of factors that contribute to network capacity and implications of the transport network capacity on the economic and job markets need more ideas and actions to come up with proper implementations. The implementations took for dealing with the current problems facing freight travel still require concurrent research to develop more advanced freight travel models for dealing with future implications of the problem. Due to the high demands, the transport departments should introduce focused models for creating a potential and practical application because of the complexities encountered in freight transportation. All stakeholders in the sector of carriage should work together with the government in ensuring that freight transport meets its maximum capacity requirements for economic development.
References
Figliozzi, M. A. (2011). The impacts of congestion on time-definitive urban freight distribution
networks CO 2 emission levels: Results from a case study in Portland, Oregon. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 19(5), 766-778.
McKinstry M., (2016). Impact of Electronic Logging Devices on Supply Chains: Don’t Be Left
Behind. Retrieved November 14, 2016, from http://mohawkglobal.com/white-papers/impact-of-electronic-logging-devices-on-supply-chains-dont-be-left-behind/Sullivan, J. L., Novak, D. C., Aultman-Hall, L., & Scott, D. M. (2010). Identifying critical road
segments and measuring system-wide robustness in transportation networks with isolating links: a link-based capacity-reduction approach. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 44(5), 323-336.