A structural equation modeling framework for studying sustainable freight transportation indicators in emerging economies

The movement of commodities in emerging economies is largely facilitated by freight transit. The major obstacle to developing sustainable freight transportation systems in emerging economies are multiple dynamic uncertainties and inherent sustainability risks. This study determines the major indicators responsible for the sustainability of freight transportation. Initially, 16 Sustainable Transportation Indicators (STIs) are identified through literature and discussed with experts under five sustainability parameters: reputation, overall service quality, resilience, economic model, and job satisfaction. The identified STIs are categorized under the economic, social, environmental, and risk categories. Later, a hypothetical conceptual Structural Equation Model (SEM) is employed to analyze and verify the data. The results from the study show that STIs such as Reputation, Employment Benefits, and Infrastructure and Technology are crucial for the development of sustainable freight transport in emerging economies as they can enhance the efficiency and productivity of transportation systems and, hence their importance must be considered for future deployment of freight transportation in these economies.