Electronic marketplaces for transportation services in the context of their usage by shippers are examined. Shippers, carriers, and logistics providers come together at these marketplaces to provide and receive information about each other's needs. The use of electronic marketplaces has promised to lower transaction costs, provide greater visibility of freight movement, and reduce inefficiencies in the current transportation and logistical processes. Although the efficiencies of these virtual hubs are promising, this promise will not materialize without the support of these interactive actors and agents of the transportation system. A study was performed of the adoption of this technology on the shipper side, primarily using a survey approach. The survey, designed for online administration, is aimed at studying the attitudes of shippers toward Internet technology and the subsequent development of electronic commerce. The results of this survey characterize the shippers' awareness level of these marketplaces and the extent to which the marketplaces will be used. Furthermore, this survey also captures the roles that marketplaces will play in meeting the current and future needs of shippers.
Abstract