The Operating Characteristics of the Five Basic Modes of Transportation - Essay Example

MODES OF TRANSPORTATION The operating characteristics of the five basic modes of transportation The five basic modes of transportation are rail, road, air, water and pipeline. Road transport offers the most essential mode of transportation. It is described as both supplementary and complimentary mode of transportation as it serves to complete movement by other modes of transportation. A case in point is that of goods having to be transported by road from the railway terminal to their final destinations. Rad transportation is characterized by high degree of flexibility and cost effectiveness as the mode connects nearly every place on earth and the cost of transportation is largely affordable. Road transportation is known to be a major consumer of space in comparison to other modes of transport. The construction of roads is characterized by physiographical constraints due to substantial additional costs that arise due to geographical features such as rivers, mountainous regions, valleys and rugged terrains (Kreowski, et. al, 2013). Water transportation can broadly be divided into two categories namely inland water transport which operates in rivers, lakes and canals and oceanic transport which takes place in oceans and seas. Water transport is regarded as a slow mode of transport. However, they can be used to transport large amount of goods over a very long distance. Water transport can carry large tonnage at a very low variable cost which makes it the most favorable mode of transportation for large commodities. This mode of transportation is characterized by limited range of operation as it is confined to the presence of large water bodies. The water mode of transportation is characterized by high operational costs which is evident in the high terminal costs since the construction of infrastructures at the port are very expensive to build, maintain as well as improve. High Inventory costs also another characteristic of water transport. Air transport is the recent mode of transport which is characterized by high speed and efficiency. This mode of transport is known to cover a very long distance within the shortest time possible. It is marked by high costs well as many travel regulations. The high cost is due to fuel, maintenance and labor charges. The construction and maintenance of airports is a very costly affair. This mode of transportation is used to transport light commodities which are delicate and perishable in nature. Air routes are usually unlimited and the constraints to air transport are the climatic conditions, aerial currents, fog and site (Hanson and Giuliano, 2004). Rail transportation are characterized by its ability to transport large volume of goods over a long distance which makes them more economical. This mode is marked by high fixed costs due to the expansive equipment used in the construction of railroads and terminals. Some of the commodities that are efficiently transported through rail include steel, war equipment, automobiles, coal and crude oil. It is evident by relatively low variable operating costs. Rail transport is offers great assistance to heavy manufacturing and bulk industries. Pipelines are generally unlimited mode of transport as they can be laid under water and on land. Physical constraints are generally low with this mode of transportation and they include landscaping and pergelisol in the arctic environmental conditions. The viscosity of the fluid to be transported, determines the diameter and the distance of the pipes. These factors will determine the cost of construction and operation costs. Pipeline transportation is further characterized by a 24 hour basis operations and there is usually no empty containers to be returned after goods have been transported. The fixed costs of pipeline transportation are high but the variable costs are indeed the lowest in comparison to all the other modes of transportation (Kasilingam, 2000). Roles and responsibilities of the participants or parties of the transportation system The participants of the transportation system include the drivers of automobiles, captains of planes, ships and trains. The members of the public also form an integral part of the transport system as they are the ones being transported or having their goods transported. Other key players in the transport system are the policymakers who are responsible for ensuring smooth operations within the transport sector. The people charged with moving the transportation machines are to ensure care and caution so as to ensure that the people and goods being transported reach their destinations safely. As a result, they must be undergo proper training so as to equip themselves with the necessary skills. The policymakers in the transport sector must ensure they can up with policies that will promote efficient operations in the transport system. The members of the public should ensure compliance with the set policies so that the services offered to them are not compromised. The principles of economies of distance, weight, and density Economies of density comes into existence when a one percent increase in all the outputs leads to an increase in the firm’s cost by less than one percent provided that factors such as network size, input prices and production technology are held constant. Economies of distance takes place when a one percent increase in the distance of transportation results into a less than one percent increase in the cost of transportation. This takes place provided that all the other factors that affects the cost of transportation such as nature of goods, mode of transportation and the type of transport are held constant. The economies of weight occurs when a one percent increase in the weight of the commodities being transported leads to a less than one percent increase in the cost of transportation provided that other factors affecting the cost of transportation are held constant. The roles of reactive and proactive consolidation to transportation productivity Reactive consolidation to transportation productivity is s form of consolidation that does not seem to influence the various compositions and the timing of transportation movements. It in turn reacts to the shipments upon their arrival and as a result combining orders into large shipments for line haul movement. On the other hand, proactive consolidation allow various players in the transportation process such as shippers, carriers and consignees to take part in the consolidation savings (Perret, 2007). The shipper takes part in the process by taking advantage of preorder planning and timing so as to apply for the consolidated large haul system. The cost to ship 400 pounds of Glass, microscopical slide or cover, in boxes from Atlanta, Georgia to Lansing, Michigan. LTL = 70 L5C = 40.48 Total amount = 70* 40.48 = $ 2833.60 References Hanson, S., & Giuliano, G. (2004). The geography of urban transportation. New York: The Guilford Press. Kasilingam, R. G. (2000). Logistics and transportation: Design and planning. Dordrecht [u.a.: Kluwer. Kreowski, H.-J., Scholz-Reiter, B., & Thoben, K.-D. (2013). Dynamics in Logistics: Third International Conference, LDIC 2012 Bremen, Germany, February/March 2012 Proceedings. Dordrecht: Springer Perret, F. L. (2007). Essentials of logistics and management. Lausanne, Switzerland: EPFL. Read More