Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T07:18:51.679Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Efficient Interfacing of the Truck-To-Ship Intermodal Grain Transfer System: Port of Houston

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

Stephen Fuller
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University
Mechel Paggi
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University

Extract

Agricultural transportation is often characterized by seasonal and cyclical traffic flows that unfavorably affect the logistical efficiency of the marketing system. Congestion problems arise in the truck-to-ship intermodal grain transfer system at the Port of Houston. Seasonal peaks in truck-delivered grain receipts create problems with efficient interfacing of the port elevators' grain-receiving capacity and truck arrival patterns. During peak volume periods, the elevators' receiving capacity is inadequate; long truck queues develop and congestion or waiting occurs. Queues of 3-4 miles are common during the peak receipt periods, whereas the facility may be idle for extended periods of off-peak time.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Adkins, W. G., Ward, A. W., and McFarland, W. F.. Value of Time Savings to Commercial Highway Vehicles, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report No. 33, Highway Research Board, 1967.Google Scholar
[2] Buffington, J. L. and McFarland, William F.. Benefit-Cost Analysis: Updated Unit Costs and Procedures, Research Report 202-2, Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University, August 1975.Google Scholar
[3] Cox, Clifton B., Glickstein, A., and Greene, J. H.. “Applications of Queuing Theory in Determining Livestock Unloading Facilities,” Journal of Farm Economics, Volume 40, 1958, pp. 104117.Google Scholar
[4] de Weille, Jan and Ray, Anandarup. “The Optimum Port Capacity,” Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, Volume 8, September 1974, pp. 5365.Google Scholar
[5] Fuller, Stephen and Paggi, Mechel. Port of Houston: Intermodal Grain Transfer System, Market Area and Transportation, 1976-77, B-1190, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, October 1978.Google Scholar
[6] Interstate Commerce Commission. Transport Statistics of the United States: 1974, Washington, D.C., 1976.Google Scholar
[7] Johnson, M. Bruce. “On the Economics of Road Congestion,” Econometrica, Volume 32, January-April 1964, pp. 137150.Google Scholar
[8] Kresge, D. T. and Roberts, P. O.. Systems Analysis and Simulation Models. Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution, Transport Research Program, 1971.Google Scholar
[9] Lawton, Lawrence. “Evaluating Highway Improvements on Mileage-and-Time-Cost Basis,” Traffic Quarterly, Volume 4, January 1950, pp. 102117.Google Scholar
[10] Lu, J. Y.Optimum Supermarket Check-out Facilities: An Application of Queuing Theory,” Journal of Farm Economics, Volume 43, 1961, pp. 2744.Google Scholar
[11] Phillips, Don. T.Applied Goodness of Fit Testing,” monograph presented to the American Institute of Industrial Engineers, Inc., 1972.Google Scholar
[12] Prabhu, N. U. Queues and Inventories: A Study of Their Basic Stochastic Processes. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1965.Google Scholar
[13] Pritsker, A. A. B. Modeling and Analysis Using the Q-Gert Networks. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1977.Google Scholar
[14] Sharp, John. Grain Facilities in the U.S. Specializing in Originating Grain for Export and Soybean Processing Plants, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, December 1977.Google Scholar
[15] Simmons, Richard L.A Queuing Theory Application with Time-Dependent Parameters,” Journal of Farm Economics, Volume 43, 1961, pp. 1408–9.Google Scholar
[16] Wagner, Harvey M. Principles of Operations Research. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1969.Google Scholar
[17] Wanhill, Stephen R. C.Further Analysis of Optimum Size Seaport,” Journal of Waterways, Harbors, and Coastal Engineering Division, ASCE, Volume 100, No. WW4, November 1974, pp. 377383.Google Scholar
[18] West, Melbourne H.Economic Value of Time Savings in Traffic,” 1946 Proceedings, Institute of Traffic Engineers.Google Scholar