Founding low-carbon highway freight transportation networks: An example study on Shandong province

The transport industry of China is facing a hard on how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the same time as transports is increasing. We have focused here on the solution that is most feasible for short-term implementation: founding low-carbon freight transportation networks by developing semi-trailer swap transportation. The study is carried out in two aspects: First, in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the same time as the freight transportation volume is increasing, promoting the transport efficiency by reconfiguring transportation network is attainable. It´s essential to analyze exactly the spatial distribution of transportation demand so as to replan the transportation networks effectively. Theoretically qualitative analysis and empirical works on Shandong province are carried out to find the relationship between industry and highway freight transportation. Secondly, since semi trailer swap transportation mode has some technical and economic advantages which accord with easing climate and environmental issues, semi-trailer swap transportation networks are employed to found a low carbon freight transportation system. A presumedly configuration of the network is shown based on the empirical works on Shandong province.