3) Critical literature review on intermodal freight transportation
3.1) Logistical theories and practices which are being used by intermodal freight transport. (1500 words)
Literature review
Planning issues in transportation of intermodal freight begun in 1990. United nation is comprised of individuals, businesses, communities as well as agencies from the government. These elements therefore rely of the transportation by the freight as it is crucial in satisfying their essential needs. This therefore corresponded to the movement of over fifteen billion by freight worth tons which was roughly over eleven trillion which were thus delivered for more than nine hundred and eighty five thousand miles of high way aids of federals, one hundred and forty one thousand miles railroads transportation, eleven thousand miles of waterways inland transportation and one million and six hundred thousand miles of pipeline transportation. It is therefore clear that every mode of freight transportation serves very essential roles in the delivery of freight system. Truck has been established as the major mode for years in regard to the tons of cargo that have been moved as well as the revenue that they generate. This is mainly influenced by the fact that the mode of transportation has earned competitive advantage over time. The competitive advantage of the small shipments as well as local distribution has mainly influenced the development of truck freight competition. Additionally, also the fact that almost three quarter of the elements in the communities in America is exclusively served by truck freight transportation. Pipeline transportation holds high product volume as the transportation mode moves from limited sources of destinations. Railroad transportation gives priority on intermodal and movement of bulk involving long distances. The shipment by domestic water focus on huge tons volume, lowered costs of products. Air mode transportation supports the high value movement and sensitivity of cargo. A major activity in intermodal freights generally involves the transfer of cargo at the major ports and inland terminals.
Therefore given the significance and size of transportation system of freight, its capability to operate in safer, efficient and secure ways in paramounting to present and future of the well-being of the nation. Some of the major threats top effectively achieving the quality of services that are thus identified. Based on various research reveals that their major issue that is facing the freight transportation recently is planning.
Freight transportation utilizes the game theory in gaining a competitive and strategic advantage. Game theory in freight transportation is used in water way transportation. This theory is used in analyzing the planned behaviors by taking considerations of how participants expect other people to behgave. As explained by the international trade advisor Jock O’Connell of the beacon economics the theory is used to draw understanding of the behavior of companies in oligopoly. This is therefore similar to the alliances off carriers in different lanes of trade.
Gamer theory is essential in freight transportation because it is used in finding the optimal outcome from the choices set as it helps in analyzing costs and advantages to every party as they are able to freely compete with one another. Stackleberg and cournot duopoly solutions are the given examples of how game theory can be applied. The other trend that is emerging in freight transportation is the differentiation of brands. This is in that the price rates of cargo transportation still remain constant as the vessels for transportation are increasingly becoming bigger thus spending additional time in the ports. The level of services are additional becoming unreliable which is making the shippers to mitigate the involved risks thus booking for cargo based on distinct schedules in deployment. As revealed the logistic managers may soon opt for collaboration in the relationship of designing terminals in order to enhance the throughput as well as the distribution. This is because managing of excess capacity is still the largest challenge for the operators of the transportation vessels. In order to achieve effectiveness in planning the need for ultra large vessels is therefore growing. This is because the freight transport is currently characterized by large ship’s containers.
The ports case are often peculiar as they combine marine and land transport advantages as well as the disadvantages. This can therefore be referred as eccentric center. The game theory implies that the city ports can comfortably overcome the peripheral situations via the scales economies which are brought by the transport of maritime and therefore this leads to higher sizes and ranks than those that are determined by the theory of central place.
The gateway theory is therefore aimed at solving the issue of planning as it is purposed at providing more respectable places. The other theory is the self-agglomeration and effect of hub theory which takes place in port
Land system of transport involves two major modes which are roads and rail way transport. Obviously roads were established before the introduction of railway transport became more available by the beginning of 18th century in the middle of industrial revolution. The advanced roads in the modern world are directed by structured roads. Rail transport is a mode of passengers’ conveyance of passengers as well as goods by the mode of wheeled cars which run on rail tracks which are thus referred to railroad. The rails are thus anchored to rail road consists of connected vehicles that run the rails the rail locomotive are powered by electricity diesel or even electricity. In another option these locomotives can also be powered by multiple units. Vehicles that are railed utilize less fiction those roads vehicles which require tyres with rubber. This therefore makes rail transport more efficient than road rails although they cannot achieve the efficiency of ship transportation.
Road transport is defined as a travel route which is surfaced with concrete or gravel and the land of passage that is in support by the number of vehicles. The most improved vehicle in road transport is automobile as it is characterized with the ability of carrying its individual motor.
Transportation of tons by water is the procedure that transports water craft such as boats. The need for buoyancy and hull aspect construction appearance and maintenance is the aspect of water vessels.
