1 research outputs found
Turnaround Times and Freight Wagon Competitiveness: Evidence from Tanzania Railways Corporation
No full textTurnaround time remains a major constraint to the competitiveness of freight operations at Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC). This study examined the effect of turnaround time on the competitiveness of TRC’s freight services, focusing on three critical components: cargo handling time, maintenance time, and wagon retention time. Adopting a positivist philosophy and a quantitative, explanatory research design, the study sampled 171 participants, comprising TRC staff and freight clients, of whom 152 responded. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Results revealed that cargo handling time (ß = - 0.143, Sig. = 0.087) had an insignificant negative effect on competitiveness while wagon retention time (ß = -0.243, Sig. = 0.000) had a significant negative effect. Conversely, maintenance time (ß = 0.333, Sig. = 0.000) demonstrated a significant positive impact. These findings imply that inefficiencies in cargo handling and prolonged wagon retention undermine TRC’s service competitiveness, while effective maintenance contributes positively to. The study recommends that TRC invest in advanced technologies, workforce training, and preventive maintenance. Additionally, improvements in scheduling and logistics coordination are necessary to minimize retention time and enhance overall operational performance and service appeal. This study contributes empirical evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa to the limited literature on rail freight turnaround times, offering managerial insights for improving operational efficiency in state-owned railway corporations
