Advancing sustainable competitiveness in freight transport: An integrated framework with system thinking approach

Freight transport is central to economic vitality, yet a major source of congestion, emissions, and social externalities. Accordingly, the sustainability of freight transport systems is increasingly recognized as a vital element in global efforts to address climate change and improve urban livability. Building on a structured gap analysis, this paper advances the Integrated Freight Transport System Model (IFTSM) for Sustainability Competitiveness by (1) Embedding Reliability, Efficiency, and Attractiveness dimensions, (2) incorporating the Systems Thinking Approach by developing the Causal Loop Diagram, and (3) positioning the framework for future context-specific application. The framework offers a holistic structure that delineates system boundaries, defines key variables, and incorporates feedback loops to evaluate sustainability competitiveness. Phases 1 and 2 of the framework, focused on system definition and causal loop modeling, establish a conceptual foundation for future evidence-based sustainability competitiveness assessment. The proposed 12 feedback loops identify potential leverage pathways: (1) Reinvesting ROI into network quality to reduce congestion, improve safety, and cargo damage, elevating public acceptance, (2) Strengthening service quality to reinforce on-time delivery and demand, and (3) proper distribution planning to stabilize flows and capacity utilization. Once validated, the framework can be adapted to other regions through parameterization and stakeholder engagement. •The concept of sustainability in freight transport encompasses not only environmental considerations but also social and economic dimensions, necessitating a holistic approach to system design and operation.•The main objective of this article is to address the gap identified in the literature related to the comprehensive framework. Accordingly, the objective is to identify the suitable framework or potential methods to conceptualize freight transport systems framework to evaluate and measure the sustainability of the freight transport system considering the interactions between various subsystems.•SCOPUS and AI tools have been employed to search for the articles within the period from 2010 and 2024.•The gaps have been collected, filtered, screened and classified under the following categories:•Integration of multimodal systems•Stakeholder engagement, and•The quantification of sustainability metrics •The concept of sustainability in freight transport encompasses not only environmental considerations but also social and economic dimensions, necessitating a holistic approach to system design and operation. •The main objective of this article is to address the gap identified in the literature related to the comprehensive framework. Accordingly, the objective is to identify the suitable framework or potential methods to conceptualize freight transport systems framework to evaluate and measure the sustainability of the freight transport system considering the interactions between various subsystems. •SCOPUS and AI tools have been employed to search for the articles within the period from 2010 and 2024. •The gaps have been collected, filtered, screened and classified under the following categories: •Integration of multimodal systems •Stakeholder engagement, and •The quantification of sustainability metrics