Transport Flashcards
(24 cards)
What does transport mean?
Transport means the physical movement of raw materials, products, and people from one location to another.
Why is transport important to firms?
Transport is essential for trade in the chain of distribution; it brings raw materials and semi-finished goods to manufacturers, delivers finished goods to wholesalers and retailers, and allows employees to reach places of work.It has led to the extension of both local and overseas markets, allowing consumers worldwide to buy goods produced in far-off countries, leading to greater choice and improved standards of living.
What are the main means of transport in home trade and foreign trade?
The main means of transport in home trade are by road, rail, rivers, and canals whilst in foreign they are by air and sea.
What are the advantages of road transport?
Road transport is usually cheaper and faster than other forms of transport over short distances, and it also provides door-to-door services. Labor costs are lower compared to those of rail as a carrier needs only a two-man crew. It also minimizes the risk of loss due to damage and pilferage. Also suitable for the delivery of fragile goods & items like furniture where even slight damage may be serious.
What are the disadvantages of road transport?
Road transport is slower than rail over longer distances, not suitable for carrying bulk goods over long distances. There can be congestion and delays because of bad weather or particularly when operating in towns or during ‘holiday periods’ on the road.
What is rail transport?
Rail transport has specialist facilities for carrying certain goods, for ex. oil by rail tanker and the freightliner service for carrying containers.
What are the advantages of rail transport?
Rail transport is cheaper and faster for carrying goods in bulk and passengers especially over long distances. It avoids traffic jams in the cities. Rail is safer than road for carrying dangerous products, for ex. nuclear waste.
What are the disadvantages of rail transport?
Rail is more expensive and shorter than road over short distance. Trains run to timetables and therefore do not possess the flexibility of road transport, and can only go where their lines. Capital costs are heavy. Maintenance of track and railway rolling stock is also expensive.
What are the advantages of air transport?
Air transport is the fastest form of transport. It is fast over long distances and would therefore, be used for sending, medical supplies for emergencies. Goods sent by air are under closer supervisor and there is less risk of theft or damage. Loss documentation is required compared to sending goods by sea. Fees for handling and storing are less.
What are the disadvantages of air transport?
Air transport is expensive, particularly for heavy goods, it also has limited weight and size capacity. Long road journeys could be needed to complete the journey in areas where there are few airports. Bad weather may restrict the flight.
What are the advantages of sea transport?
See transport is cheap for carrying bulky and heavy goods as well as good in bulk over long distance. Perishable goods like fruits and meat can be sent by sea because refrigeration facilities are provided by the ships. Containerisation reduces the loss of goods due to pilferage, damage by weather or poor handling.
What are the disadvantages of sea transport?
Sea transport are not suitable for goods urgently needed. Expenses for insurance premiums, packing costs, storage and port dues are high. Documentation is complex.
What are the advantages of inland waterways or canals transport?
Canal transport is cheaper and provides a smooth passage for fragile goods for example China. Canals are particularly suitable for bulk cargoes, example: coal, iron ore.
What are the disadvantages of canal transport?
Transport by canal is slow. Only certain parts of United Kingdom can be reached by canal. Other forms of transport are also usually needed.
What are pipelines?
Pipelines are used to carry liquid and gases over short and long distances.
What are the advantages of pipelines?
Pipelines are safe form of transport with little risk of theft or damage. They are cheap to run with low cost of maintenance. They provide a quick form of transport.
What are the disadvantages of pipelines?
Pipelines are very expensive to build. If one part of pipeline is damage then the whole pipeline cannot be used. Only limited types of goods can be carried by pipelines.
What is containerisation?
Containers are large metal boxes of standard sizes which are filled with goods, for example, the manufacturer’s warehouse. The containers are then field and are not opened until they reach there destination. Containers are used in road, rail, sea, and to limited extent in air transport. The carry goods which are not large or bulky, for example, clothes and television sets.
What are the advantages of containers?
They are very secure and can be locked to avoid loss and theft of goods or materials. There is increased security. Pilferage is quite impossible for the containers are packed and locked by the consignor and opened only by the consignee.
What are the disadvantages of containers?
The high capital costs are involved in equiping a container terminal with all the proper facilities. Labour related problems like uncomfortable working conditions in filling or emptying containers, resistance to change on the part of port workers, etc may arise.
What is own fleet transport?
Certain manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers prefer to operate their own fleets of vehicles instead of using other forms to deliver goods for them.
What are the advantages of own fleet transport?
It can be cheaper than using transport forms. The vehicles are always on the land and can there for be sent out at short notice, which ensures quicker delivery. Own vehicles can carry ‘free advertisement’ for the firm. The firm can employee its own drivers which can reduce the risk of theft and damage.
What are the disadvantages of own fleet transport?
If the fleet is not fully used, it could be more expensive than using road transport firms. More capital can be needed. Employing local carriers to deliver goods over short distances.
Main types of ships used in sea transport?
Passenger line is normally used for carrying passengers, mail and some express cargo. Cargo liner is mainly used for carrying a variety of cargo and sometimes a few passengers. Bulk carriers usually carries a particular type of cargo, for example, bulk career is for iron ore or an oil tanker transports oil.
