Effects of Speed Control on Tow Travel Costs

This study examines the possibility of cutting fuel costs by slowing down tows before they reach a queue at a waterway lock. If tow operators can receive early information about queues at locks, they may slow down and save fuel. This study evaluates the effects of speed control and timing of information on two operation costs at different congestion levels. Here, speed control reduces fuel costs by up to 837.107 $/tow (29.65%) by substituting slower motion for faster motion followed by idling. No significant reductions in total travel time were expected or obtained. Depending on congestion levels, the average tow delay is reduced by values ranging from 12.06 min/tow at 22.8% lock utilization to 787.459 min/tow at 96.8% lock utilization. The average tow cost is reduced by values ranging from 4.474 $/tow at low volume to 817.054 $/tow at high volume. This study also confirms that better opportunities to control speed and reduce fuel costs are available when information on congestion and queues is provided as early as possible.