Summary and Conclusions
This study revisits two conflicting hypothesis: structure performance hypothesis and the
efficient structure hypothesis using financial and operating data obtained from the Transportation
Technical Services, Inc. This study used annual, pooled, and panel data to test the two
hypotheses to determine whether the profits made by firms in the trucking industry were based
on greater economic efficiency or because of collusive activities during the study period.
The results reveal profits made by the carriers were based on them being more efficient
than their competitors rather than them participating in collusive activities. The results also
support the efficient structure hypothesis and reject the structure performance hypothesis.
Therefore, both public and private market evaluators of the trucking industry can use the results
of this analysis to find the basic economic forces that affect the profits of firms in the industry.
Also, managers and owners of the various firms can develop strategies to take advantage of the
weaknesses of their competitors and the strengths of their firms to make profits. Finally, the
results of this study provide users with information that may be used to take advantages of unmet
needs in the trucking industry.
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