Transport plays an important
role as an auxiliary (support) service in fulfilling needs and want of business enterprises and individuals.
• Transportation is not just a mode only. It is also a system made up of some elements with a balanced development.
These elements of the transport system can be explained as follows
• Way :- Different means used for transportation.
Eg: Highways, railways, waterways, airways, pipelines
• Mode :- Vehicles running on various ways Eg: Motor vehicles, carts, bicycles, passenger trains, good trains, boats, ships, helicopters, air planes.
• Power :- The energy used to drive the vehicles used in each mode. Eg: Natural power such as man power, animal power, wind, sunlight and coal, mineral oil, electricity, gas.
• Terminal :- The places where the modes of transport use to stop the vehicles. Eg: Bus stand, railway station, airport, harbour
Some advantages of the highway transport method are mentioned below:
• Ability to select a mode according to the needs
• Island wide availability
• Ability to use highways whenever necessary.
• Mostly the same mode of transport can be used until the end of the journey.
• A speedy method for short distance journeys.
Some limitations of the highway transport method are mentioned below.
• Difficulty in transporting large stocks at the same time.
• Difficulty in maintaining highways.
• Delays and a greater number of accidents
• Interruptions due to bad weather conditions.
Some advantages of railway transport method are mentioned below.
• Ability to transport a large stock and a large number of passengers at the same time.
• Greater security than highway transport.
• Ability to use compartments according to the nature of the goods.
• Charges are moderate compared to other transport methods.
• Ability to get various facilities such as canteens, sleeping births, observation rooms etc.
The following are some of the limitations of railway transport.
• Non-availability of island wide railway lines.
• Inability to get the service whenever the necessity arises.
• Due to the inability of using the same method up to the end of the journey, other transport methods have to be used.
• Delays due to non performance of signal lights, weak conditions of railway lines etc.
Some advantages and limitations of waterway transport are mentioned below. Advantages:
• Facilitates international trade.
• Ability to transport large quantities.
• Ability to select vessels according to the nature of goods.
Limitations:
• Limited availability
• More time consuming
Some advantages and limitations of airway transport method are mentioned below. Advantages:
• High speed.
• Suitable for perishable goods.
• No costs for maintaining airways
Limitations:
• Not suitable to transport huge and very heavy goods.
• High transport cost.
• Greater tendency for accidents.
• Non availability of service when needed.
• Discuss the importance of transportation to businessmen as well as to consumers.
It is possible to list the facts that should be taken into consideration, when selecting a suitable transport method as follows
• Nature of the goods
• Distance
• Speed
• Safety
• Cost
• Capacity
• Availability
• Standards and international norms
The following are the documents used in relation to transports methods
Transport method Documents used
Highway transport
• Transport of goods : Goods delivery note
• Transport of passengers : Ticket, season ticket Pass for free travel
Waterway transport
• Transport of goods : Bill of lading
• Transport of passengers : Ship entry ticket
Airway transport
• Transport of goods : Airway bill • Transport of passengers: Air ticket
Railway transport
• Transport of goods : Consignment note
• Transport of passengers : Ticket/ Season ticket/ railway warrant
New trends are also developing in the transport field and the following are some examples for them.
• Transport through tunnels (subways)
• Construction of flyovers
• Construction of highways
• Use of cable cars
• Use of electric trains
