Transportation of Hazardous Materials in a Rail-Truck Intermodal Network: Balancing Safety, Efficiency, and Sustainability

Abstract

Intermodal transportation of hazardous materials (hazmat) poses complex challenges that require optimizing operational costs, safety risks, and environmental impacts simultaneously. This study develops a multi-objective optimization framework for hazmat logistics across integrated highway and railway networks, emphasizing sustainability metrics and carbon emission constraints. A novel sustainability index is introduced, harmonizing environmental performance measures across transportation modes while aligning with cost and risk optimization objectives. Tactical-level analyses explore localized effects on individual network segments and system-wide impacts of capacity-constrained carbon emissions. A case study of North America's rail-truck intermodal network validates the model's effectiveness, showcasing its ability to balance economic, safety, and environmental priorities. These findings offer actionable insights for transportation planners and logistics operators aiming to optimize intermodal hazmat shipments while achieving sustainability goals.