Article Title

Parcel shipping: Understanding the needs of business shippers

Authors

Michael S. Garver, Central Michigan UniversityFollow
Zachary Williams, Central Michigan UniversityFollow
Sean P. Goffnett, Central Michigan UniversityFollow
Brian J. Gibson, Auburn UniversityFollow

Abstract

Research on carrier selection addresses how shippers choose carriers. To date, this extensive research stream has not adequately addressed a known and significant shipping segment: business parcel shippers. In this research, input from 374 business parcel shippers was captured and analyzed using Maximum Difference Scaling. The respondents were asked to evaluate the importance of 17 carrier selection variables in regard to choosing a parcel carrier. The overall results indicate that delivery promises, transit times, rates, pick-up promises, and tracking are the most important attributes when a parcel shipper makes a carrier selection. In addition, the results of attribute importance were used classify the parcel shippers into four unique segments.

Recommended Citation

Garver, Michael S., Williams, Zachary, Goffnett, Sean P., & Gibson, Brian J. (2016). Parcel shipping: Understanding the needs of business shippers. Journal of Transportation Management, 26(2), 29-46. doi: 10.22237/jotm/1451606580

DOI

10.22237/jotm/1451606580