A stated preference analysis of wholesalers' freight choice

The choice between own-account and third-party commodity transportation in the Norwegian wholesale trade industry is studied by means of a two-level conjoint analysis. An attempt is made to draw companies (upper level) and shipments (lower level) at random. Quality factors considered include freight time, punctuality, damage risk, vehicle advertising, freight terminal opening hours, customer service offered by driver, as well as various intrinsic attributes characterizing own-account in relation to third- party freight. Marginal rates of substitution, such as the value of time, are derived.