Shipper Versus Carrier Perceptions of Carrier Selection Variables

A great deal of attention in physical distribution management has been raised by both practitioners and academicians as to what type of carrier service is desired by shippers and consignees. From the viewpoint of the buying system, the selection of an appropriate transport mode and the selection of a given carrier and particular services offered by the carrier is an important decision. Billions of dollars are spent annually by the shipping public. The sheer magnitude of the expenditure coupled with the limitation on customer service which can result from the carrier selection choice is making it an increasingly important decision. Purchasing systems need better information concerning carrier selection variables than they now have to enable them to design the organisation for buying carrier services, and to select, train, and supervise traffic people as well as to decide how much of the process can be computerised.