Engr Transport

Engineering of Seed Cotton Transport Alternatives: 

Engineering of Seed Cotton Transport Alternatives Shay L. Simpson Co-authors: Barry Goodrich, Mark Hamann, Calvin B. Parnell, Sergio C. Capareda, and Bryan W. Shaw Texas Aandamp;M University

Introduction: 

Introduction Increased production past 3 years over historical average in Texas Faster harvesting methods Storage of modules in fields Longer ginning seasons Increased RISK for rainfall and 'stuck' modules

Seed Cotton Transport Challenges: 

Seed Cotton Transport Challenges Tandem axle weight (fully-loaded) exceeds Federal Regulation for Interstate Highway System (34,000 lbs)

Slide4: 

trip. per road the down cotton more Haul

Goals: 

Goals Provide industry tools for: Transporting modules economically and timely within increasing gin service radius Transport on roads/interstates without violating regulations

Transport Using ArcGIS 9.1: 

Transport Using ArcGIS 9.1 Gins located using Long./Lat. County average cotton production known from USDA-NASS

Slide7: 

Highways, Interstates, and Local roads mapped with Tele Atlas

More Features/Information: 

More Features/Information NIR imagery maps obtained from USDA-FSA Cotton fields obtained from TBWEF (2005 data) Acreage known

Cost of Conventional Module Transport: 

Cost of Conventional Module Transport Bob Avant provided Assumptions Used module truck $50,000 @ 6% for 5 years Straight line depreciation for 10 years 5 mpg, diesel @ $2.65/gal, 45 mph average Maintenance - $1K, Ins. - $1K, License - $500 Driver - 10 hour day, $15 per hour incl. benefits 22,500 pound load, 15 bales picker cotton OR 22,500 pound load, 12 bales stripper cotton 1 hour loading andamp; unloading time per module

Module Transport Model: 

Module Transport Model Where: TCM = transport cost of module d = one-way haul distance

Transport on Per Bale Basis: 

Transport on Per Bale Basis

Lubbock County: 

Lubbock County Red Squares are cotton gins

Fields as Polygons: 

Fields as Polygons Red Squares are cotton gins Blue polygons are cotton fields

Fields as Points: 

Fields as Points Red Squares are cotton gins Green dots represent centroid of each field (2130 fields)

Lubbock County: 

Lubbock County Lines represent the routes from each field to the closest gin

Cost of Module Transport inLubbock County: 

Cost of Module Transport in Lubbock County

Semi-Tractor Trailer (STT): 

Semi-Tractor Trailer (STT) Except: 59 foot restriction in Texas for single trailer 28.5 foot restriction for two trailers

1 ½ Module Transport: 

1 ½ Module Transport 53 foot

Semi-Tractor Trailer (STT) Transport: 

Semi-Tractor Trailer (STT) Transport Similar Assumptions to Module Truck Differences 20% extra laborer andamp; 100% extra module truck $25,000 used ST + $50,000 used T Maint. $1.5K, Ins. $1.5K, License $900 33,000 pound load, 22 bales picker cotton OR 33,000 pound load, 18 bales stripper cotton 1.5 hours load and unload STT

Cost of Module Transport inLubbock County: 

Cost of Module Transport in Lubbock County STT cost = $1,803,000

Cost Comparison: 

Cost Comparison

West Texas Transport: 

West Texas Transport Dell City to Seminole, Tx Save $14K-15K using STT

Slide23: 

SUM = $171,000 $149,000 STT Hauling saved $22,000

Localized Crop Disaster: 

Localized Crop Disaster One area with weather damage Other areas with bumper crop Road network between the two

Transport shortest distance using interstate frontage roads: 

Transport shortest distance using interstate frontage roads

Transport on non-interstate frontage roads: 

Transport on non-interstate frontage roads

Future Work: 

Future Work Determine at what distance it is most economical to use: Module truck transport STT transport Technical feasibility analyses of STT transport