Analyzing Log and Chip Truck Performance in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with GPS Tracking Devices
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2011-07-31
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Abstract:"Minimizing transportation costs is essential in the forest products industry, as the
relatively low value
and high weight of the products causes transportation to account for exceptionally high
portion of the
overall cost. The Midwest forest products industry competes in a global market, and the
region’s value
proposition is highly dependent on affordable and efficient transportation system.
Understanding of
system efficiencies requires sufficient data, but while most individual forest products
companies collect
data on origins and destinations of truck trips, little is known about the actual aggregate
movements along
the route. One alternative to collect data on truck movements is with Global Positioning
Systems (GPS)
data receivers. Since the cell phone coverage in the region is very sparse and unreliable,
using satellite
based GPS is a logical alternative, but the use of such devices has been limited in the
forest products
industry, partially due to high cost of devices and the carrier’s reluctance for
centralized dispatching.
The research, sponsored by National Center for Freight & Infrastructure Research &
Education
(CFIRE), focused on using GPS data recorders on both log and chip trucks operating in the
Upper
Peninsula of Michigan (UP) and analyzed the data to validate trends and to
identify potential
improvements and savings. A Trine XL data collector was selected for this research effort
because it is
inexpensive, easy to use and provides the necessary geospatial information to perform
truck movement
analysis. Since this GPS system doesn’t have real-time tracking capabilities, log sheets
were developed
for truck drivers to compliment the geospatial data. With combination of GPS data and
filled out log
sheets, the research team was able to make interpretations of truck movements and
activities during stops
or idling periods.
This paper presents a brief literature review of past truck tracking studies and
alternative GPS devices
available for tracking purposes. It introduces the three project steps and reviews the
outcomes of the
project. The research concluded that there are significant similarities between
log and chip truck
movements. It also validated the fact that the main hindrance for truck productivity
involves numerous
truck stops required either for loading or unloading, totaling almost fifty percent of the
overall operational
time. On the other hand, chip trucks had significantly shorter unloading times when
compared to the log
trucks and they recorded higher average daily mileage. The research did not
identify specific
inefficiencies in the actions of truck drivers, but it was recognized that trucks
experience extensive idle
periods during operations. The sensitivity analysis conducted to identify potential
savings from reduced
idling suggested that several thousand dollars in fuel savings could be realized by each
individual truck
annually, if idling could be reduced.
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