EVALUATION OF POLICY AND PRACTICE MEASURES FOR THE SUSTAINABLE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Abstract

The freight transportation activities are an essential function of any supply chain management. Transportation activities are regarded as the most unsustainable activity of the supply chain process. In the last decade, many researchers, policymakers, and practitioners giving greater importance to tackle the sustainability challenges of the freight transportation system. The global world is experiencing an increasing consumption of natural resources, increases traffic accidents, carbon emission, and noise pollution. The global trade of goods transportation is performed by multiple modes of transport such as rail, road, air, and sea. A combination of two or more modes of transport is called a system of the intermodal or multimodal transport system. The combination of different transportation modes or sustainability practices adopted by road freight transport organizations is necessary for sustainable freight transportation (SFT). The SFT considers the holistic involvement of environmental, social, and economic dimensions of the freight transport sustainability. A modal shift from unimodal mode to multimodal or intermodal mode is a strategy for reducing the negative impact of freight transport on the environment and society. Therefore, sustainable development of the freight transportation industry is an important policy and the practice area of any transport organization as well as for the nation.