Ag Shipper – Web Survey

Ag shipper survey web survey questions flow and logic 7-18-2017.docx

2017 Agricultural Shipper Transportation Needs Survey

Web Survey Flow of Questions and Logic

OMB Control #: 0710-0018 Expiration: 11/30/2019

Use of web based technology for this survey has required that some of the question presentations from the paper survey be asked or structured differently. For example use of tables in a paper survey is fairly intuitive for completion or skipping of certain information. Then in a computer context, they question has to be separated to replicate the same data collection. Actual data collected will be nearly identical to that collected via the paper survey form. Survey logic is in italics by the appropriate response or under the question if it applies to any response. Additional notes describe more complex logic or how information is inserted into repetitive questions.

Question #	Question	Values/Logic Flow	Additional notes
01	What is the primary commodity you ship from this elevator?	____ Commodity	Text box field, open ended
02a	At this location do you have loading capabilities for…	Trucks o Yes o No Rail Cars o Yes (answer 02b) o No (answer 02c) Barges o Yes o No (answer 02d)
02b	What is your rail car loading capacity?	____ # cars	Text box field, open ended
02c	How close is the nearest rail loading facility to this elevator?	____ miles	Text box field, open ended
02d	How close is the nearest barge loading facility to this elevator?	____ miles	Text box field, open ended
03	What commodity was shipped in your last shipment?	____ commodity	Text box field, open ended
04	Where was this commodity shipped to?	____ City ____ State	Text box field, open ended
04b	What type of destination is this?	o River terminal o Another Elevator o Railroad Terminal o Processing Plant o Other (specify) ____	Other has text box field, open ended for specific type
05	How large was this shipment (payload weight)? What was the unit of weight or volume for this last shipment?	____ payload weight o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
06aa	Did you use any of the following modes of transportation in this last shipment?	Truck o Yes (answer 06b-d) o No Rail o Yes (answer 06b-d) o No Barge o Yes (answer 06b-d) o No	If all responses no, skip to Q10
06a-cb	What was the distance traveled by [mode] for this last shipment?	____ miles traveled by [mode]	Text box field, open ended Question is repeated for each mode in Q06aa where “yes” was selected.
06db	What was the TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED by ALL MODES for this last shipment?	____ TOTAL miles traveled by ALL MODES	Text box field, open ended Asked if “yes” was selected for at least one mode in Q06aa
06a-cc	What was the [mode] transportation rate per unit? What was the unit of weight or volume for this last shipment?	____ $ transportation rate per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Question is repeated for each mode in Q06aa where “yes” was selected. Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
06dc	What was the TOTAL TRANSPORTATION COST per unit? What was the unit of weight or volume for this last shipment?	____ Total Cost rate per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Asked if “yes” was selected for at least one mode in Q06aa Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
07	What do you estimate was the shipment time (include scheduling time, wait for equipment and transit time)?	____ days ____ hours	Text box field, open ended
08	How reliable is the service?	____ percent on-time arrivals	Text box field, open ended
09	What price did you receive for your commodity at the destination terminal? What was the unit of weight or volume for this last shipment?	____ dollars per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
10	If the mode and destination you used for your last shipment had not been available and would never be available, what would you do?	o Shut down (answer 25) o Continue your operations
	First Shipping Alternative
11	Where would this commodity shipped to?	____ City ____ State	Text box field, open ended
11b	What type of destination is this?	o River terminal o Another Elevator o Railroad terminal o Processing Plant o Other (specify) ____	Other has text box field, open ended for specific type
12aa	Would you use any of the following modes of transportation in this first alternate shipment?	Truck o Yes (answer 12b-d) o No Rail o Yes (answer 12b-d) o No Barge o Yes (answer 12b-d) o No	If all responses no, skip to Q17x1
12a-cb	What would be the distance traveled by [mode] for this first alternate shipment?	____ miles traveled by [mode]	Text box field, open ended Question is repeated for each mode in Q12aa where “yes” was selected.
12db	What would be the TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED by ALL MODES for this first alternate shipment?	____ TOTAL miles traveled by ALL MODES	Text box field, open ended Asked if “yes” was selected for at least one mode in Q12aa
12a-cc	What would be the [mode] transportation rate per unit would be? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this first alternate shipment?	____ $ transportation rate per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Question is repeated for each mode in Q12aa where “yes” was selected. Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
12dc	What would be the TOTAL TRANSPORTATION COST per unit? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this first alternate shipment would be?	____ Total Cost rate per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Asked if “yes” was selected for at least one mode in Q12aa Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
13	What do you estimate would be the shipment time (include scheduling time, wait for equipment and transit time)?	____ days ____ hours	Text box field, open ended
14	How reliable would the service be?	____ percent on-time arrivals	Text box field, open ended
15	How large would this shipment be (payload weight)? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this first alternate shipment?	____ payload weight o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
16	What price would you receive for your commodity at the destination terminal? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this first alternate shipment?	____ dollars per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
17x1	Do you have any additional shipping alternatives?	o Yes o No (answer 24)	Not on the mail instrument. This has the same function as Q10 on the web.
	Second Shipping Alternative
17ac, 17as	Where would this commodity shipped to?	____ City ____ State	Text box field, open ended
18a	What type of destination is this?	o River terminal o Another Elevator o Railroad terminal o Processing Plant o Other (specify) ____	Other has text box field, open ended for specific type
19aa	Would you use any of the following modes of transportation in this second alternate shipment?	Truck o Yes (answer 19b-d) o No Rail o Yes (answer 19b-d) o No Barge o Yes (answer 19b-d) o No	If all responses no, skip to Q17x2
19a-cb	What would be the distance traveled by [mode] for this second alternate shipment?	____ miles traveled by [mode]	Text box field, open ended Question is repeated for each mode in Q19aa where “yes” was selected.
19db	What would be the TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED by ALL MODES for this second alternate shipment?	____ TOTAL miles traveled by ALL MODES	Text box field, open ended Asked if “yes” was selected for at least one mode in Q19aa
19a-cc	What would be the [mode] transportation rate per unit? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this second alternate shipment?	____ $ transportation rate per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Question is repeated for each mode in Q19aa where “yes” was selected. Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
19dc	What would be the TOTAL TRANSPORTATION COST per unit? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this second alternate shipment?	____ Total Cost rate per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Asked if “yes” was selected for at least one mode in Q19aa Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
20ad	What do you estimate would be the shipment time (include scheduling time, wait for equipment and transit time)?	____ days ____ hours	Text box field, open ended
21a	How reliable would the service would be?	____ percent on-time arrivals	Text box field, open ended
22a1	How large would this shipment be (payload weight)? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this second alternate shipment?	____ payload weight o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
23a1	What price would be you receive for your commodity at the destination terminal? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this second alternate shipment?	____ dollars per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
17x2	Do you have any additional shipping alternatives?	o Yes o No (answer 24)	Not on the mail instrument. This has the same function as Q10 on the web.
	Third Shipping Alternative
17bc, 17bs	Where was this commodity shipped to?	____ City ____ State	Text box field, open ended
18b	What type of destination is this?	o River terminal o Another Elevator o Railroad terminal o Processing Plant o Other (specify) ____	Other has text box field, open ended for specific type
19aa2	Would you use any of the following modes of transportation in this third alternate shipment?	Truck o Yes (answer 19e-g) o No Rail o Yes (answer 19e-g) o No Barge o Yes (answer 19e-g) o No	If all responses no, skip to Q24
19a-ce	What would be the distance traveled by [mode] for this third alternate shipment?	____ miles traveled by [mode]	Text box field, open ended Question is repeated for each mode in Q19aa2 where “yes” was selected.
19de	What would be the TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED by ALL MODES for this third alternate shipment?	____ TOTAL miles traveled by ALL MODES	Text box field, open ended Asked if “yes” was selected for at least one mode in Q19aa2
19a-cf	What would be the [mode] transportation rate per unit? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this third alternate shipment?	____ $ transportation rate per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Question is repeated for each mode in Q19aa2 where “yes” was selected. Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
19df	What would be the TOTAL TRANSPORTATION COST per unit? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this third alternate shipment?	____ Total Cost rate per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Asked if “yes” was selected for at least one mode in Q19aa2 Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
20bd	What do you estimate would be the shipment time (include scheduling time, wait for equipment and transit time)?	____ days ____ hours	Text box field, open ended
21b	How reliable is the service?	____ percent on-time arrivals	Text box field, open ended
22a2	How large would this shipment would be (payload weight)? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this third alternate shipment?	____ payload weight o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
23a2	What price would you receive for your commodity at the destination terminal? What would be the unit of weight or volume for this third alternate shipment?	____ dollars per unit o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
24	Of the alternative shipments, if any, what is your “preferred alternative”? That is, if you could not make the shipment you made what shipment would you have made?	o First Alternative o Second Alternative o Third Alternative o Other Alternative (specify) ____	Other Alternative has text box field, open ended for specific description
	End Alternative Shipment Section
25	For your last shipment, if the transportation rate increased «Percent_change1»%, would you continue with the original mode and destination or switch to your best alternative choice?	o Continue to use Original mode o Switch to Best Alternative Choice (answer 26) o Go out-of-business (answer 26)
25b	If you would continue to use your Original mode, what percentage increase in the transportation rate would be necessary to cause you to switch to the Alternative transportation mode?	____ % increase	Text box field, open ended
26	For your last shipment, if the transit time (including scheduling and wait for equipment) for the original option increased «Percent_change2»%, would you continue with the original mode and destination or switch to the alternative at this location?	o Continue to use Original mode o Switch to Best Alternative Choice (answer 27) o Go out-of-business (answer 27)
26b	If you would continue to use your Original mode, what percentage increase in the transit time would be necessary to cause you to switch to the Alternative transportation mode?	____ % increase	Text box field, open ended
27	For your last shipment, if the reliability (percentage of time shipments arrived on-time) of the original option decreased «Percent_change3»%, would you continue with the original mode and destination or switch to the alternative at this location?	o Continue to use Original mode o Switch to Best Alternative Choice (answer 28) o Go out-of-business (answer 28)
27b	If continue to use Original mode, what percentage decrease in the reliability would be necessary to cause you to switch to the Alternative transportation mode?	____ % decrease	Text box field, open ended
28	If the average transportation rate you pay increased by «Percent_change4»%, would your annual volume shipped decrease (assume the rate increase applies to BOTH you and to your competitors)?	o Yes o No (answer 29)
28b	If yes, by how much would the volume decrease (assuming the rate increase applies to both you and to your competitors)?	____ volume decrease	Text box field, open ended
29	If the average transportation rate you pay increased by «Percent_change5»%, would your annual volume decrease (assume that the rate increase applies ONLY to your firm and NOT to your competitors)?	o Yes o No (answer 30)
29b	If yes, by how much would the volume decrease (assuming that the rate increase applies ONLY to your firm and NOT to your competitors)?	____ volume decrease	Text box field, open ended
30	If the average time in transit increased by [percent change]«Percent_change6»%, would your annual volume decrease?	o Yes o No (answer 31)
30b	If yes, by how much would the volume decrease?	____ volume decrease	Text box field, open ended
31	If the average time that shipments arrive on-time decreased by «Percent_change7»%, would your annual volume decrease?	o Yes o No (answer 32)
31b	If yes, by how much would the volume decrease?	____ volume decrease	Text box field, open ended
32	How long has this elevator been at its current location?	____ years	Text box field, open ended
33a	How large is your elevator (Total Amount of Annual Units Shipped) Type of unit for this elevator	____ Total Amount of Annual Units Shipped o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
33c	How large is your elevator (Total Amount of Storage Capacity)? Type of unit for this elevator	____ Total Amount of Storage Capacity o Tons o Hundred weight (Cwt) o Gallons o Bushels o Shipment o Other (specify) ____	Text box field, open ended Other has text box field, open ended for specific unit
34	Does your firm (or parent firm) own export or import facilities?	o Yes o No
35	How many facilities such as this one does your firm own and/or operate?	____ number of elevators	Text box field, open ended
36	Thank you for your help with this study. We would welcome any additional comments you would like to provide about shipping.		Text area field, open ended