Improved transport efficiency through reduced empty positioning of containers - Transport buyers' perspective
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Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Supply chain management (MPSCM), MSc
Publicerad
2021
Författare
Tegbrant, August
Karlander, Axel
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
Empty container repositioning (ECR) is mainly a result of the global trade imbalance but there are
several regional issues where there is a potential for improvements.
This master thesis aims to investigate how transport buyers can reduce ESR by identifying actions,
drivers and barriers in Sweden. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on container
management have been discussed. Three actor groups were taken into consideration in this study:
importers, exporters and freight forwarders. The study was performed by conducting interviews with
nine transport buyers. The collected data and the literature study were used as a basis for the analysis
and discussion.
Four drivers, four actions, and seven barriers were identified. Also, three impacts of how the Covid-19
pandemic has impacted ECR has been identified. Among the actions, street-turns was the most used
action among the interviewed companies and is seen as one of the best methods to reduce ECR for
transport buyers according to research. The barriers, such as container ownership mismatch, location
mismatch and trade imbalance, are difficult to eliminate but it was concluded in this study that
collaboration and transparent information among transport buyers are key factors that may reduce the
impact of the barriers.
This study has shown that some transport buyers are working to reduce ECR whereas others are not
involved in reducing ECR. Furthermore, freight forwarders have also proven to play an important role
in reducing ECR among the transport buyers mainly because of their knowledge within container
transport management but also as they have large client bases. Even though transport buyers are
taking actions to reduce ECR, there is still room for improvement.