Full steam ahead: Firms in the US economy adjust inventory for changes in transportation costs but not the reverse

Authors

David Swanson, University of North FloridaFollow
Brent D. Williams, University of Arkansas
Jingping Gu, University of Arkansas
Matthew A. Waller, University of Arkansas

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Abstract

Logistics theory suggests that transportation and inventory policies are jointly considered by managers because these costs have offsetting properties. For example, when inventory is ordered less frequently, total transportation costs are likely to be lower due to economies of scale; yet inventory carrying costs are likely to be higher. This research analyzes aggregate transportation and inventory costs in the United States from 1960 to 2013, finding that, in the US economy as a whole, inventory and transportation costs are in long-term equilibrium. Furthermore, inventory seems to be adjusted for changes in transportation costs; however, transportation costs are not adjusted for changes in inventory costs.

Publication Title

Transportation Journal

Volume

55

Issue

3

First Page

282

Last Page

295

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.5325/transportationj.55.3.0282

ISSN

00411612

Citation Information

Swanson, Williams, B. D., Gu, J., & Waller, M. A. (2016). Full Steam Ahead: Firms in the US Economy Adjust Inventory for Changes in Transportation Costs But Not the Reverse. Transportation Journal, 55(3), 282–295. https://doi.org/10.5325/transportationj.55.3.0282