Long-haulage transport in China : A mapping of segments, needs and future trends for semi-trailers

Sammanfattning: This report describes the Chinese truck transport industry; how companies in that industry manage their businesses and the problems they face regarding how they can conduct their long-haulage transport business as efficiently as possible. The method used in this thesis is a qualitative approach where data mainly have been collected through interviews with transport companies. Initially, the components necessary for road transport are discussed, what separates them and how legal demands limit them. Through studies and interviews with transport companies in China and Europe, differences between the different continents are identified in terms of development level and efficiency in logistics handling. These aspects are connected to factors such as salary differences and legislations to finally identify three key segments for the Chinese market. These segments are then analyzed individually and compared against each other to identify one segment where an optimized semi-trailer could improve the current segment and also be an attractive product, for transport companies in that segment as well as for semi-trailer manufacturing companies. Specifications for a proposed semi-trailer are suggested based on needs for that segment. Finally different options for the introduction of such a product at the Chinese market are investigated considering risk-taking, profit requirements and feasibility. This study shows and arguments that there is a big market potential for better semi-trailers than the ones used in the market today and that the segment with the biggest improvement possibilities is a segment where both weight and volume are bottlenecks in the daily business. This study further shows that a high potential can be seen through a growing market and new legislations in China which implies that current semi-trailers will have to be phased out within a period of fifteen years to a product that fulfills the new legislations.