Freight mode choices for eco-friendly transport modes: An impact-analysis of modal shift measures

For years, numerous studies have demanded a greater shift of freight transport from road to eco-friendly transport modes to prevent serious consequences of climate change. Despite these scientific claims, road transport is still the predominant transport mode in the sector. A key element to increase modal shift is to transform freight mode choices, as they have a decisive impact on the selection of a transport mode based on identified transport performance criteria. Nevertheless, there exists a lack of academic research examining the relationship between modal shift measures and mode choice criteria, as most studies focus on only one area without analysing the influences. By means of a survey-based assessment encompassing 131 responses from shippers and logistics service providers in Austria, Germany, and the BeNeLux states, a user-centric framework was established to identify the most influential modal shift measures on freight mode choice criteria. The results show that developing infrastructure and improvements of services and efficiency are the most important measures impacting mode choice criteria and consequently might bear the potential to lead to a transformation towards modal shift. Additionally, the paper underlines that an adaption of freight rates is necessary since the transport price is still the most important mode choice criteria.