Editors’ Introduction

In our previous issue we announced some news about the new co-editors assuming the leadership of the Transportation Journal. In this issue we announce a change in the ownership of the journal. On July 1, 2015, the American Society of Transportation and Logistics merged with APICS, and the Transportation Journal is under the domain of APICS Supply Chain Council. The editorial objectives of the journal will remain the same with a focus on transportation and logistics, as relevant to supply chain management. The editorial staff very much looks forward to serving a broader academic and practitioner readership.

On a personal note, I will be leaving my co- editor position on December 31, 2015. I feel honored and privileged to have served first as editor-in-chief and then co-editor for six-and-a-half years. We have accomplished a great deal in updating the journal’s publishing processes and implementing some new practices, such as the rotating co-editor positions, establishment of an Industry Notes editor, and initiating best paper and outstanding reviewer awards. I use the term “we” because all of the changes reflected a team effort.

I hope I don’t omit anyone in expressing my appreciation to individuals and groups who worked hard and offered support over the past several years. The following are deserving of thanks and appreciation: Laurie Denham, President of the former AST&L and the AST&L Board of Directors for their continued support of the journal; Kusumal Ruamsook, assistant editor, whose hard work and attention to detail ensured smooth transitions between accepted manuscripts and published articles; the Penn State Press leadership and personnel for their guidance, professional assistance, and patience with our often late adherence to deadlines; Tom Goldsby as the first co-editor of the journal for his thoughtfulness and thoroughness in manuscript processing; Mary Holcomb and Yoshi Suzuki for their willingness to take on the leadership for the next phase of the journal; Rich Young, for twice coming to our rescue to serve as book review editor; and last and definitely not least, the excellent and hardworking editorial review board that enabled the continued quality of articles. Of course, we all express our appreciation to the contributors of articles and the readership of the journal who have maintained the longstanding respect and reputation the Transportation Journal has held.

Best Regards,

Evelyn Thomchick, Co-Editor

In this journal we have a nice variety of article topics. Vehicle routing has long been a topic of research in transportation. However, the use of alternative fuel vehicles and the configuration of alternative fuel infrastructure add complexity to the problem. In the first article, In and Bell use a mixed integer programming model and logistics regression to assess the impacts of both the density of the alternative fuel infrastructure and the patterns of customer locations on the optimal fleet composition. In the second article, Hofer investigates the mechanisms through which two dimensions of interorganizational interdependence—dependence asymmetry and joint dependence—impact a customer’s key attitudinal and behavioral dimensions in the relationship with a third-party logistics provider (3PL), as well as associated performance outcomes.

The third article is also involves solving a routing problem. McPhee, Paunonen, Ramji, and Bookbinder quantify Nestlé’s costs and benefits of modifying their ice cream supply chain to incorporate nighttime deliveries, while providing a framework for the regulatory, conceptual, and inertial obstacles to implementation.

In our first Industry Note, Rosa, Brnjac, and Abramovic use the analytic hierarchy process to evaluate the criteria used for deciding on suitable locations for intermodal terminals in Croatia. In the second Industry Note, Krishen, Krachroo, Argarwal, Sastry, and Wilson introduce a feedback safety model that utilizes and combines disparate data sources and allows for model-based action to alleviate the problems. Our book review for this issue is American Railroads—Decline and Renaissance in the Twentieth Century, authored by Robert E. Gallamore and John R. Meyer and reviewed by John C. Spychalski.

Mary Holcomb, Yoshinori Suzuki, and Evelyn Thomchick, Co-Editors