Information and the trucking industry

We analyze the trucking industry in the context of the value chain, in order to establish a framework for a qualitative study of the roles and impacts of information in various segments of the trucking industry. The paper presents a framework for our study of the uses and roles of information in trucking. The study's objectives are fourfold: to understand the role of information in various segments of the trucking industry; to determine how information and communication technologies are enabling the availability of data on which this information is based; to determine how this information is being used by the industry; and to determine the impact of this information on the vehicle, the firm, and the industry. In order to address these objectives, we draw on qualitative data, including interviews and first hand observations made during 1996 and 1997. Discussions and interviews are in progress with a variety of stakeholders interested in the use of information in the trucking industry.