Pricing Decision and Research of Dual-Channel Cargo Transportation Service System Based on Queuing Theory

Xiaorong Wang (), Yinzhen Li (), Changxi Ma, Yong Xian and Yingjie Sun
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Xiaorong Wang: School of Traffic and Transportation, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yinzhen Li: School of Traffic and Transportation, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Changxi Ma: School of Traffic and Transportation, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yong Xian: School of Traffic and Transportation, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yingjie Sun: School of Traffic and Transportation, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-28

Abstract: Against the backdrop of China’s “public-to-railway” freight policy that has led to railway yard congestion and imbalanced modal capacity utilization, this study develops a Dual-Channel Cargo-Transportation Service (DCTS) system model using queuing theory to optimize freight flow allocation and pricing strategies. Integrating the behavioral decisions of governments, carriers, and cargo owners, the research employs M/M/1 queuing models and the Logit choice framework to analyze the dynamic equilibrium between goods waiting times and carrier profits, exploring objectives of minimizing system-average waiting time and maximizing carrier profits. Key findings show that regulating highway pricing can effectively divert freight flows to reduce railway congestion and improve system efficiency, with optimal pricing intervals for highways identified based on service capacity to balance congestion relief and profitability. The model quantifies the trade-off between transportation costs and waiting times to guide cargo owners’ mode choices, and numerical simulations validate that strategic highway price adjustments alleviate bottlenecks and enhance modal synergy. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the government to formulate freight-transportation policies and optimize freight flow allocation. At the same time, it also provides a practical, theoretical basis and methodological reference for carrier pricing decisions, as well as for solving the problem of freight flow congestion and optimizing the pricing of transportation services.

Keywords: queuing theory; dual-channel cargo-transportation service system; stochastic process; freight flow allocation; pricing strategy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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