Methodological Evaluation of Transport Maintenance Depot Systems in Senegal: A Randomized Field Trial for Cost-Efficiency Assessment

In Senegal, transport maintenance depots play a crucial role in ensuring road safety by maintaining vehicles on public roads. However, the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of these systems are not well understood. A randomized controlled trial was employed to assess the impact of different depot layouts and service frequencies. Data from three randomly selected depots were collected over a period of one year, including vehicle inspection data and cost records. The results indicated that depots operating with a frequency of four inspections per month achieved the lowest total maintenance costs while maintaining high safety standards (cost savings up to 20% compared to current practices). This study provides concrete evidence on how to optimise transport maintenance depot operations for cost-effectiveness and safety. Senegalese authorities are encouraged to adopt the findings of this research, particularly in terms of frequency and layout optimization, to improve road safety and reduce costs. The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y_{it}=\beta_0+\beta_1X_{it}+u_i+\varepsilon_{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.