TPT 250

FUNDAMENTAL OF TRANSPORT
Chapter 1:
Functions of Transport

Jun2013
Learning Objectives

At the end of this chapter, learners should be able to:

⚫ Define what is transport
⚫ Identify transport and its role in society
⚫ Describe the concept of transport is a derived
demand
⚫ Explain functions of transport in three aspects;
economic, social, political/military
Definition of Transport – cont.

⚫ Any activity that moves people and/or goods

from one point (origin) to another point
(destination) to satisfy its needs and wants
⚫ A movement of goods and passenger from
point of origin to the point of destination

Origin Destination
Definition of Transport – cont.

⚫ As simple and easy as walking & cycling

⚫ As complex as moving hundreds of people/tonnes
of goods
IMPORTANT ROLE IN HUMAN DAILY LIFE

FOODS

CLOTHES
TRANSPORT
SHELTER
Transport and Its Role in Society

⚫ Transport is a non separable part of any society

⚫ Advances in transport has made possible changes
in the way of living and the way in which societies
are organized, therefore have a great influence in
the development of civilizations
➢ The modern the transportation of a society, the
more civilized we could say about their people
➢ Example: Developed countries like US, Japan, etc
Transport and Its Role in Society –
cont.

Economic
Bridging Activities
Producer - Employment
Consumer
Gaps

ROLE

Reduce
Accessibilities
Travelling Time

Generate
Income
Transport and Its Role in Society –
Economic Activities

1. Economic Activities
➢ Involve production, distribution and consumption of
goods and services
➢ People depend upon natural resources to satisfy
needs of life, but due to non uniform surface of earth
and difference in local resources, there is lot of
difference in standard of living in different societies
➢ So there is an immense requirement of transport of
resources from one particular society to other
➢ Resources: material things to knowledge and skills
➢ It helps to increase human civilization
Transport and Its Role in Society –
Economic Activities

1. Economic Activities
➢ Without transport nothing moves and no economic
activities will take place
➢ Not only within one country, the same goes to product from
outside the country process of globalization will be
disturbed and affect the economy badly
➢ To remain competitive, initiatives to expand market for Msian
products and services will be intensified by strengthening
position in traditional markets and exploring new markets
➢ Liberalization under WTO and AFTA, as well as bilateral free
trade arrangement with countries like East Asia and Asia
Pacific will expand global reach
Transport and Its Role in Society –
Employment

2. Employment
➢ During the days when there is no transport, most of
employment sector focusing on agricultural based and
mining
➢ Nowadays, people from Sabah and Sarawak can work
in Kuala Lumpur
➢ People from Temerloh and Kuantan can commute
everyday to Jengka town though the travelling time
took an hour and more for working purpose due to the
accessibility of road and transport infrastructure
provision to civilize human being
Transport and Its Role in Society –
Reduce Travelling Time

3. Reduce Travelling Time

➢ Travelling time: total journey time taken to travel from
one point to another point within or between one state to
another state
➢ Ex: Total journey time taken to travel from KL to Melaka
using current highway might be approximately two and
half hours
➢ This is due to the high accessibility and good highway
provision and supply of infrastructure
➢ On the other hand, travelling time during old days using
bare foot and animal is impossible to reach the same
point for that total journey time taken civilize people
Transport and Its Role in Society –
Generate Income

4. Generate Income
➢ 9th Malaysian Plan: commuter, LRT and monorail systems
have proven to be effective investments
➢ But, it needs to be further integrated comprehensively with a
wider network in order to become the choice mode of
transportation for all society esp. when generating income
➢ A complete feeder system, on-time services, increase in
frequencies and less waiting time will enable Msian
population generate good income for their household
➢ Transportation planning must consider the growth of new
residential areas, commercial centre and complexes, new
public infrastructure such as schools and also population
growth and density
Transport and Its Role in Society –
Accessibilities

5. Accessibilities
➢ During the old days, limited road supply and provision of
public transport had restrict people from moving far
away from home lack of exposure on the
surrounding
➢ Now, the development of highways not only in KL, but
also linkage to another state right across the country
from north, south, east and west allow human
population to travel freely anywhere and anytime they
want civilize people
Transport and Its Role in Society –
Bridging Consumer Gaps

6. Bridging Consumer Gaps

➢ In economics, between supplier and end
user/consumer, there is always a gap
➢ Gap: needs and want the user of certain product that
cannot be produced at their origin
➢ It means, the product is located at different origin than
the consumer
➢ Ex: rice consumption. Most Msian population like/must
eat rice at least once/day. Without paddy field near our
home, we can still eat rice due to the role of transport.
➢ Transport will bring the rice from the state of origin to
different state of destination as demanded
Transport and Civilization

Before After
⚫ Primitive man have no ⚫ Invention of ‘wheel’
wheel & way depends and development of
own physical & mental ‘way’
effort to make things.
⚫ Travel on their own ⚫ Permit mixing of
foot (walking) + carry people = exchange
things on their back ideas & commodities
⚫ Not mobile = physical ⚫ On their own
limitation ⚫ Improve quality of life
Transport as a Derived Demand - cont

⚫ Indirect/derived demand
➢ the object demanded is not demanded for itself alone, but
only as a means to provide other desirable goods and
services
➢ transport is a derived demand : the state where
people demand for transport for another purpose
➢ transportation is the outcome of the functions of
production, manufacturing and consumption
➢ ex:
⚫ job opportunity in urban areas,
⚫ needs for heavy machinery and labor force,
⚫ business, meeting, holiday in other countries
Functions of Transport

1. Specific function of transport is to fulfill the demand for

mobility
❖ transportation can only exists if it moves people and freight
around, otherwise it has no purpose
2. Bridging the producer-consumer gaps
❖ to reduce time (storage) and geographical gaps (place)
3. Function of transport can be seen in these 4 areas:
i. Economic
ii. Politics
iii. Social
iv. Military
Functions of Transport –
Bridging Producer and Consumer Gaps

1. Time Gap
❖ Exist as goods produced today may not require tomorrow
❖ Bridged by preserving the goods from deteriorate through
warehousing
❖ Transport support the whole process of moving goods in the
warehouse system
2. Geographical Gap
❖ Arise because producers and consumers are not in the same
place
⚫ Transport function is to bridge the time and place gaps so that
goods and services can be exchanged to their mutual benefit
⚫ Help to bring the ‘economies of scale’ to high volume of production
to reduce the product cost
Functions of Transport - Economic

⚫ Speeds up the economy by bringing raw materials and

components easily and cheaply
⚫ Make movement of goods and services easy
⚫ Bringing goods or services to the place of demand or
experience the pleasure (place & time utility)
⚫ Allows exchange of trade in the market, import and export
and thus widen the market
⚫ Money or income earn by individuals who depend to
transport to get to their workplace and receive money in
return to improved their family state of economics
Functions of Transport: Economic - cont

⚫ Economic contribution
– Opening up new land development
– Expansion of market
– Linking remote, deserted areas with developed areas
– Job opportunity
– Job mobility
– Speed up industrialization process
– Delivery of goods
– Bridging the producer-consumer gap in term of time and
place utility
Functions of Transport: Economic - cont

Bridge Producer-
Time Utility Consumer Gap Place Utility

Delivery of Goods Achieve Economic

(Value of Exchange) Of Scale
ECONOMIC
FUNCTIONS

Supply of Goods in
Employment
Different Market
Opportunity
Can be Equalized
Functions of Transport: Social

⚫ 3 areas of social function of transport could be seen

from the formation of settlement, size and pattern of
settlement and growth of urban centre
– Early formation of settlement is believed to be near the
riverbank or major river junction
– Initial settlements were relatively small developments, but
due to course of time, settlements is not limited by the size of
area where they can obtain food and other necessities, but
also personal travels especially journey to and from work
– When the city grows beyond normal walking distance, then
transportation technology plays a role in the formation of the
city
Functions of Transport: Social - cont

⚫ Help to establish social relationship and spread

thoughts of idea
⚫ Enable people to gather in one place within a short
period of time
⚫ Exchange ideas, thus develop/increase standard of
living
Functions of Transport: Social - cont

⚫ Visiting, tourism, excursion

⚫ Exchange of ideas in culture,
fashion and education Non-
Compulsory
⚫ Shopping (personal needs), trip
recreational activities
⚫ Promote intellectual development
⚫ To place of work, schools – compulsory trip
Functions of Transport: Social - cont

Recreational
Education Personal Travel
Activities

SOCIAL Travel for

Health
ADVANTAGES Pleasure

Religious Create Large

Mercy Mission
Purpose Cities
Functions of Transport: Political

⚫ Communication, military movement, travel of persons and

movement of freight
⚫ Primary function: transfer the messages and information
⚫ It is also needed for rapid movement of troops in case of
emergency, and finally movement of persons and goods
⚫ Leaders to meet and discuss political issues and
international problems
⚫ Aids/help during times of flood and famine, natural disaster
⚫ Strengthening national unity
Functions of Transport: Military

⚫ Logistics of people and goods moves

especially weapon and place they intended to
go
⚫ In most military operations, early deployment
cargo moves on military assets.
⚫ Military needs; time of war → Need protection
→ Needs good road network
Functions of Transport:
Political & Military

Keep the nation Good and strategic highway &

in harmony railway network
can be used as defense purposes

POLITICAL &
MILITARY

National Unity become stronger

•Exchange ideas, built up national character Representative govt.
• and common codes of behavior is facilitated
•Example: UN, NAM, ASEAN
The End