This study investigates longitudinal acceleration events during freight transportation characterized as low-acceleration and long-duration using delivery van type vehicles. In the past several decades, there has been an increase in shipments requiring only single or small pallet load quantities and mixed palletized unit loads comprised of different goods. These loads are often transported in delivery vans without load securing devices, increasing the risk of product loss and damage due to load failures resulting from unit loads shifting. A field data acquisition system was used to observe and record the random acceleration events from five vehicles for 5 days, explicitly targeting the vehicles' braking and acceleration manoeuvres. The study aimed to understand the physical phenomenon and provide new information that can be used during preshipment tests to prevent damage to goods and ensure unit load integrity is maintained throughout the supply chain. The events were statistically analysed to understand their probability of occurrence, severity level, and quantify critical parameters such as event rise and hold times. For the braking manoeuvre, the statistical mean of average deceleration was 0.25 g with a corresponding rise and hold duration of 0.83 and 1.27 s, respectively. During the vehicle's acceleration manoeuvre, the statistical mean of average acceleration was 0.29 g with a rise and hold time of 1.29 and 1.39 s, respectively. Utilizing the field data, composite profiles were developed, and these profiles were compared to the currently available test procedures and previous results of other studies.

In the past several decades, there continues to be an increase in both domestic and international online and catalogue shipments that requires an increase in shipments and handling of parcels by single parcel delivery companies. This study measured the vibration levels that occur in parcel delivery shipments from pickup to delivery, especially the sections involving delivery vans and small vehicles over ground road transportation in Hungary. Goods that were shipped in the regions studied almost always travel at least once by van on varying road conditions such as motorways, main, side or city roads to deliver parcels to the final destination. The aim of this paper was to provide an understanding of vibration levels that occur during van transportation that can be used to pre-shipment test new packages to prevent damage. The measured acceleration-time data were analyzed in terms of power spectral densities (PSDs) and presented with statistical data to provide an understanding of the variability of intensity. The separated and averaged vibration levels that were measured in this study were compared with the American Society of Testing and Materials and the International Safe Transit Association vibration profiles for pickup and delivery vehicle in the form of PSD spectrums. Based on the analyzed data of this study, PSD spectra were provided for various route conditions as well as composite spectra, which can be used to simulate the measured vibration conditions representing van shipments.

In the last decade, with a continued change in world economic conditions and global trade, transportation of goods has continued to increase. The opening of new and existing markets requires that products and packages move through various regions of the world using available logistical equipment and networks at a faster pace. It also requires that damage be kept at a minimum while providing maximum safety to individuals. This can be achieved by properly designing packages to transportation levels that occur in the supply chain. The purpose of this research is to both measure and analyse the vibration physical forces that occur during rail transport. Rail shipments are widely used across the world, and they are an integral part of the intermodal transfer of ISO containers from ships and trucks to rail. The aim of this paper is to provide vibration levels measured for rail shipments on a major railway line in Central Europe that has not been previously published. The vibration levels that were measured in this study were compared with American Society of Testing and Materials, United States Military Standards and United Kingdom Defense Standard standards and International Safe Transit Association procedures in the form of power spectral density spectrums. A composite power spectral density spectrum is provided which can be used to simulate the measured rail vibration levels in Central Europe. Results are also compared with rail travel in other international shipments for North America and Asia. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.