The study examines the responsible and safe business of nine Finnish road haulage companies of different sizes, and how this is reflected in their everyday operations. The main empirical data comes from the responses to a questionnaire that was sent to nine participating freight companies.
The research examines the responsible and safe business practices of these nine Finnish road freight transport companies of different sizes and how these practices are visible in the everyday operations of these companies. A point of particular interest is how responsibility and safety become integrated in the business practices of these companies.
The research data is divided into the following three focal areas: (1) the significance of responsibility, (2) economic, social, and environmental responsibility, and (3) strategy, values, and leadership. The research shows that responsibility and safety in road freight transport operations are closely linked and inter-dependent. They are also key factors in the business practices of the freight company. The core research question is: what does responsibility mean in commercial road freight transport, and is it an element that adds value? Answers are sought by examining a dialogue between theory and empirical data.
Responsibility is the central concept in this research. Its basic essence involves a mind set of working together to make progress with the foundational tools of trust, a shared value base, and ethical views and procedures. In commercial road freight transport, it is particularly important to consider a related topic, namely safety, along with all its aspects.
In this study, the concepts of responsibility and safety are interconnected. Therefore, the central focus is the participating companies’ responsible business practices, including all subareas. Considering responsibility is an important component of a freight company’s ongoing business practices, not just isolated acts of goodwill. It is business know-how that affects profitability and growth. Ethically acceptable procedures serve as a basis, and the dual role of the freight companies is thereby highlighted: they are simultaneously commercial operators and a part of the operational environment in society where their operations have an impact on people’s wellbeing. In their daily operations, the business must assess how it conceives its own social responsibility in practical terms.
Responsibility plays a part in the competitiveness of the freight company; it can be used to compete for clients, personnel, and investors. A successful company profits not just its owners, but also its stakeholders and the society as a whole.
This dissertation research shows that a responsible freight company carries out its operations in a way that exceeds the legislative requirements and meets the expectations of society and stakeholders in terms of what are deemed as proper and acceptable business practices. The companies are evaluated from the perspectives of their impact on society and the expectations of their stakeholders – not only in terms of results or their economic position. Doing business is not simply marketing or the understanding of how a market economy works. Instead, responsible business practices are connected with the idea that actions always have consequences. They can be good or bad, but the crucial parts are the company’s culture and values related to responsibility.
Responsibility-related issues must be instilled into the heart of the company’s business practices. The most important step is that each commercial freight company defines its own strategies of responsible business practices. Sustainability in the long run is the core of business operations, and responsibility is examined through the company’s economic, social, and environmental impact.
The core of the research focuses on the responsibility and safety perspectives in commercial road freight transport operations. The significance of these two concepts emerges in the data as priorities listed by the participating companies. Safety and its sub-areas are strictly regulated with a number of rules. Some of these include the abilities and skills required of a professional driver, the quality requirements of the transport equipment, and other legislative rulings and guidelines outlined by professional standards related to business practices. These all must be followed. In contrast, the areas of voluntary responsibility are based on values, attitudes, and ethical and moral considerations. Responsibility requires strong ethical leadership, responsibility-taking on an individual level, as well as company-level learning, all of which are essential aspects of developing responsible business practices.
The research examines the components of responsibility and safety of commercial road freight transport companies, the factors which enhance effectiveness thereby benefiting the freight companies’ business operations, and the consequences for neglecting responsibility and the procedures associated with it. Responsibility cannot be fulfilled by only talking about it. Instead, real actions and a commitment to the company and the essence of sustainable development are needed. The society needs responsible freight transport companies, and the freight companies need society. Both will take care of their duties, thereby supporting and improving sustainable development on a wider scale.
The doctoral dissertation of Licentiate of Administrative Sciences Kaija Möttö in the field on administrative sciences titled Vastuullisuus tieliikenteen tavarankuljetustoiminnassa will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Management and Business of Tampere University at 12 o'clock on Friday 21 May, 2021. The venue is Pinni B building auditorium B1096, address: Kanslerinrinne 1. Docent Jari Kaivo-oja from University of Turku will be the opponent while Professor Jari Stenvall will act as the custos.
The event can be followed via remote connection.
The dissertation is available online at
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-03-1918-2