Improving a cargo consolidation strategy for port-hinterland transport via inland waterways

Abstract

Container logistics is under increasing pressure to deliver efficient and sustainable hinterland transport. Achieving this requires improving the performance of environmentally friendly modes, such as inland waterway transport. This study examines the potential of cargo consolidation as a strategy to tackle suboptimal filling rates of containers, one of the most persistent inefficiencies in the Rhine-Alpine Corridor. We develop an integrated optimization model that holistically accounts for the operational and spatial requirements of consolidation, assessing the sensitivity of the strategy to labor costs, fuel prices, value of time, and vessel costs. The results show that, despite additional handling and coordination costs, consolidation can reduce overall transport costs by up to 4 % and attract as much as 42 % more container volumes to IWT on specific origin-destination connections. Vessel occupation rates emerge as a decisive factor in determining consolidation benefits, while cost parameters such as labor and fuel prices strongly influence outcomes. The research illustrates how optimizing this strategy can contribute to the sustainability of port-hinterland container transport and discusses the conditions required for its realization.