Exploration of socioeconomic and spatial attributes affecting freight trip production

Abstract

Demands for goods are expanding with increasingly global markets and growing economies, contributing to increased goods movement, congestion, and pollution. This research uses modeling techniques to explore the underlying causes that influence Freight Trip Production (FTP). FTP is the term given to truck trips originating from a business establishment. The effects of socio-economic, land value, spatial, and geographic attributes on FTP are explored. The study is based on survey data with total of 221 responses providing information about the establishment and their typical freight trip productions from New York City and the New York Capital District Region. Each response was geo-spatially located and information related to its location was ascertained, including social and economic data collected by the US Census. Implementing spatial econometric techniques to test for spatial autocorrelation, the connection between establishment attributes, location and the number of freight trips they produce is modeled. Conclusions have policy implications as they contribute to a better understanding of what variables can influence the production of freight, allowing policy makers to devise effective freight demand management strategies.