On the uses of freight transport data: Exploring and Utilising Freight Transport Data for Public and Private Use

The use of data from freight transport has the potential to significantly improve both the public planning of the roads, and the internal operations of freight companies. However, currently a large amount of data being gathered by freight companies, is not being used to its full extent. Through data obtained from Danish freight companies, this thesis explores how it is possible to enable data sharing between a public policy maker and private freight companies. Further, it is shown how the freight companies themselves may benefit by an increased utilisation of data, which is already being collected. Through collaboration with the Danish Road Directorate, the benefits they may gain from access to tracking data from freight transport are determined, and a database is developed, which can allow this collaboration. Further, through the use of inventory data, a model is determined, which shows how inventory data from freight transport correlates with Google trends data. In the future, this may allow operational planning through the use of freight demand forecasting for private freight companies. Overall, these methods enable improving the use of data which is already being collected in vast amounts every day. This may provide one further step for freight companies to reduce their environmental impact, and reduce congestions on the road network.