Improving the quality of operations in truckload trucking

In this paper, the authors discuss the quality of operations in the trucklo ad trucking industry. After introducing the concept of quality in the indus try from the perspective of the customer, the carrier, and the driver, the authors introduce a new operational paradigm based on zone dispatching that leads to improved quality from all three perspectives. A review of the cur rent literature indicates that the approach is unique. A comprehensive expe rimental design supports simulation experiments to examine operational desi gn parameters and to determine solution robustness for zone dispatching alt ernatives. Results indicate that zone dispatching alternatives compare favo rably with baseline point-to-point dispatching methods. Case studies suppor ted by data provided by J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. further demonstrate the e fficacy of the approach as a means of improving the quality of operations i n truckload trucking. Additionally, a research framework is provided to gui de future efforts in this area.