The paper through descriptive analysis sought to explain the needs for transport and logistics research, issues and benefits in transport research.. This is predicated on the fact that transport and logistics problems in developing countries require local solutions that are inherently different from those in more developed countries. The prevailing road environment is often different with climatic factors having a considerable influence on design and performance. Motorcycles, pedal cycles and various forms of non-motorised transport compete with cars, trucks and pedestrians for the use of the available road space, resulting in situations in which the most vulnerable road users are often particularly at risk. However, research has proved to be effective in devising innovative and cost-effective solutions for the provision of access and the facilitation of transport services that meet the need for safe, sustainable access and greater mobility for the poor in developing countries. Over 5 decades after achieving independence, Nigeria still rely on developed nations to conduct the research required to solve their problems in the transport sector. The provision of the relatively small amount of funding needed for researching solutions would appear to be a sound investment for the nation. It is in the light of this that the paper attempt to give examples of the benefits from investment in research in the transport sector, describes programs designed to facilitate innovation and research in the sector in developing countries, identifies the research need and suggests ways in which donors and recipient country organizations can assist in establishing a framework for carrying out research.
Attempts to overcome the problem of complex trade-offs among components of logistics cost have resulted in the creation of supply chain management and consequently ushered in detailed analysis such as holistic approach that hitherto impossible. It is in the light of this that the paper examines the potentials of economies of scale in downstream logistics of manufacturing companies of a developing economy, with a view to harnessing various cost components of this outbound logistics, such that customer service could be enhanced and competitive advantage could be achieved.The paper adopted a case study approach, and collected primary data through questionnaires administered on twenty manufacturing companies based on multistage sampling techniques. The 110-item questionnaire elicits secondary data on components of outbound logistics for the period of [2002][2003][2004][2005][2006]. The data were analysed using a software application that was packaged and designed for the study and incorporated Generalised Translog cost function that places no priori restriction on the elasticities of substitution between the various restrictions such as homoscedasticity, homogeneity and unitary elasticities of substitutions, as well as its flexibility for allowing testing for specific characteristics of technology, input demand elasticities, economies of scale and output cost elasticities.The findings revealed economies of scale and scope among input of outbound logistics resources indicating that logistics costs are characterized by joint distribution process, consequently concluded that resources management should be based on multiproduct distribution theory, and that explicit recognition of the economic interactions among resources should be incorporated in any regulatory process, through various categories of logistics service providers that must be encouraged in the country. The paper then recommended that group distribution by logistics service providers, as well as outsourcing be encouraged. This is in order to promote economies of scale which reduces cost, enhances fleet management, as well as customers' satisfaction.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.