Lean and Green Transportation Management for Sustainable Efficiency Improvement of Transportation Service Providers in Thailand Food Cold Chain
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Abstract
This study examines the impact of green and lean transportation on the sustainable performance of transport service providers in Thailand’s food cold chain. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, quantitative data were collected from 408 providers and complemented with qualitative insights from 12 key informants. The research investigates causal relationships among green transportation, lean transportation, efficiency of transport service in cold chain, and sustainable performance. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) results indicate that both green and lean transportation significantly influence transport efficiency and sustainability, with direct and indirect effects observed at the 0.05 significance level. The model demonstrated a strong fit (χ² = 119.077, df = 109, p = 0.240, χ²/df = 1.092, RMSEA = 0.015, GFI = 0.969, CFI = 0.997), explaining 74.2% of the variance in sustainable performance. Green transportation practices such as emissions reduction, energy-efficient vehicles, and environmentally friendly technologies were found to enhance operational efficiency and environmental outcomes. Meanwhile, lean transportation through waste elimination, route optimization and cross-functional collaboration improved cost-effectiveness, service responsiveness, and delivery reliability. Efficiency of transport service was measured through indicators such as delivery reliability, traceability, energy savings, and service quality. Sustainable performance was assessed across economic (cost savings, profitability), environmental (carbon emissions, energy usage), and social (safety, quality assurance) dimensions. The empirical findings substantiate the synergistic benefits of integrating green and lean transportation, with lean practices exerting more immediate effects on operational efficiency, while green practices yield more pronounced long-term environmental advantages. The study offers a validated conceptual model with high practical relevance, serving as a strategic framework for logistics practitioners and policymakers to advance sustainable transportation systems within cold chain logistics in emerging economies such as Thailand.
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