Research Activities

Research Projects

FY 2016/2017 Research Topic: C-39
Efficiency and Occupational Safety in the Trucking Industry in Thailand: A view from Personnel and Organizational Economics

Outline

What factors are involved in the firm-level performance in the area of trucking services in developing economies? This paper answers the questions about the role of managerial inputs that influence profitability, operational efficiency, and quality of trucking services. We conducted in-depth interviews and a unique and detailed firm-level survey of the trucking industry in Thailand. The firm-level dataset shows that there is large variation in basic firm-level characteristics and performance in trucking services even within the same service. This was verified by field research. We asked how operational efficiency and quality of service drives firms’ profitability. The dataset implies that increases in profitability are associated with an increase in usage efficiency, increase in driving distance with cargo, and cost reductions. Furthermore, in order to seek the sources of variation in profitability, efficiency, and quality of service, this paper constructs a score for management practices to better understand what managerial technologies firms have. This paper focuses on incentive payment schemes as the main management practice in the trucking industry. We then estimate the effects of the incentive pay scheme on profitability, operational efficiency, and quality of service.

Period

April 2015 - March 2017

Members of the Research Project
[ Organizer ] MACHIKITA Tomohiro
[ Co-researchers ] UEKI Yasushi
[ Co-researchers ] TSUJI Masatsugu (Professor, Graduate School of Applied Informatics, University of Hyogo)
[ Co-researchers ] JEENANUNTA Chawalit (Head of the School of Management Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University)
Publications
  • IDE Research Bulletin