Logistics concepts in freight transportation modeling

The purpose of this paper is to review logistics concepts used in macro freight transportation modeling by various planning agencies at the national, state and city level. The chronological development of freight modeling endeavors are studied here and the logistics component incorporated in the modeling is identified. The key modeling tools are identified and analyzed to identify the efficacy of the model, ease of use, and data required to implement the model. The conclusion was that European freight models were more developed than North American freight models. The tools most widely used are the aggregate-disaggregate-aggregate model, input-output model, artificial neural network model, matrix estimation method and PCOD model. This paper will give transportation modelers a better idea of the freight modeling tools available.