Intelligent transportation systems for commercial vehicle operations :|a case study in Turkey

Abstract

Intelligent Transportation Systems for Commercial Vehicle Operations (ITS/CVO) is the application of advanced information technologies to commercial vehicle operations. This study aims to analyze the feasibility of this new technology and management strategy, which is referred to as Intelligent Transportation Systems, for solving some of the problems of the motor carrier industry and commercial vehicle operations. To analyze the benefits and to see the feasibility of ITS/CVO technology, a Turkish transportation company has been examined on a case study. Data have been collected about various operational aspects of the company before and after the installation of a new ITS/CVO technology: a mobile communication system and an automatic vehicle location system. The before and after study concerning statistical comparison of fleet efficiency criteria, seems to indicate that installation of ITS/CVO technology provided an increase in efficiency of fleet operations. Trip frequencies, annual kilometers per vehicle, and revenues increased and trip times, trip costs, and empty kilometers decreased significantly. Furthermore, the system introduced has been found to be economically feasible. However, it seems that the number of accidents may increase as a result of the increased productivity of the fleet and therefore measures should to be taken for alleviating this negative aspect.