Purpose

A large part of maritime container supply chain costs is generated by carriers in port hinterland logistics. Carriers which operate in the hinterland are under pressure to reduce costs and increase profitability, and they face challenges of fierce price competition. This study aims to explore how collaboration is perceived and implemented by carriers in truck container logistics in the port hinterland as a way to tackle these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a qualitative multiple case study approach. Qualitative interviews with carriers in the port hinterland of Hamburg, Germany, were conducted and analyzed using grounded theory.

Findings

The study reveals two collaboration types in the hinterland, based on the different carriers' interpretation of market conditions as changeable or as given, driving their collaboration mindsets and strategic actions: The developer, who has a proactive collaboration mindset and practices strategic maneuvers toward changing poor market conditions through collaboration, and the adapter, who has a defensive collaboration mindset and perceives market conditions as given and constraining collaboration.

Research limitations/implications

The qualitative results will help researchers better understand how collaboration practices depend on the carriers' subjective interpretations and perceptions of the market.

Practical implications

Based on the findings, managers of carriers gain an understanding of the different types of actors in their market and the relevance of acknowledging these types. Consequently, they can design appropriate strategic measures toward collaboration.

Originality/value

The findings for the first time provide exploratory insights of carriers' mindsets.

中文翻译：

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腹地物流承运人合作意愿类型

目的

海运集装箱供应链成本的很大一部分是由港口腹地物流中的承运人产生的。腹地运营商面临着降本增效的压力，面临激烈的价格竞争挑战。本研究旨在探讨承运人如何看待和实施港口腹地卡车集装箱物流中的协作，以此作为解决这些问题的一种方式。

设计/方法/途径

本研究采用定性多案例研究方法。使用扎根理论对德国汉堡港口腹地的承运人进行了定性访谈并进行了分析。

发现

该研究揭示了腹地的两种协作类型，基于不同的运营商对市场条件的解释是多变的还是给定的，推动了他们的协作思维和战略行动：通过协作了解市场条件，而适应者则具有防御性协作心态，并将市场条件视为既定且限制协作。

研究局限性/影响

定性结果将帮助研究人员更好地了解协作实践如何取决于运营商对市场的主观解释和认知。

实际影响

根据调查结果，承运人的管理者可以了解其市场中不同类型的参与者以及承认这些类型的相关性。因此，他们可以设计适当的协作战略措施。

原创性/价值

该调查结果首次提供了对运营商心态的探索性见解。