READING WORKSHOP: INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT

Presented by
MELISSA PAOLA ZABALA VALDES
JHONATAN ANDRES LONDOÑO GIL

Teacher:
BRILLYD LORENA GALINDO NAVARRO

Delivery date
22/10/2020

National Learning Service

Industry and Construction Center
Business Logistics
Ibagué, Colombia
2020
 Reading workshop: International transport

Read the article Methods of international transport taken from the website Exportiamo.it and
complete the following reading comprehension tasks:

1. Identifying key information

Based on the information presented in the article, answer the following questions:
1. What’s the articles’ main idea?

a. There are many ways to transport goods.

b. Transport is very important in international trade.
c. There are several factors companies need to consider when deciding on what type of
transport to use
d. Depending on the mode of transport, companies can be more efficient and save
money.

2. According to the article, what are some of the factors a company needs to take into
account when choosing the method of transport to deliver their goods?

a. Business type and expertise

b. Sending cost and type of goods
c. Type and value of goods, sending cost, destination, and risk of transportation
d. Weather conditions and customers’ requirements

3. What mode of transport allows companies to transport large quantities at a low cost?

a. Rail transport
b. Air transport
c. Road transport
d. Sea transport

4. What method of transport is more flexible in terms of routes and timetables?

a. Rail transport
b. Air transport
c. Road transport
 d. Sea transport

5. What methods of transport require companies to spend more money on further

transportation costs to take goods to their final destination?

a. Rail transport and sea transport

b. Air transport and road transport
c. Road transport
d. Sea transport, air transport and rail transport

6. When is it necessary to complete a dangerous goods declaration?

a. When the goods are being transported to countries located in Europe, North Africa or
the Middle East.
b. When the goods are being transported by rail.
c. When the goods that are being transported have a UN dangerous goods code.
d. When the goods are being transported with no insurance.

2. Finding similar words

The following wordlist contains words from the article on methods of international transport.
For each word find a word with the same or similar meaning (synonym).

Word Synonym
Trade Comerce
Ensure Protect
Efficient Effective
Requirement Necessity
Quick Fast
Risk Danger
Send Dispatch
Customer Client
Suitable Appropriate
Delay Put off
Deliver Bring
Currency Money
Insurance Assurance
 3. Find the missing words

Choose the option that better completes the following passage:

When _selling_ freight internationally, it’s _important_ to choose the appropriate

mode of transportation to _ensure_ your products arrive on time and at the right cost.
Your _decision_ to ship by land, sea, or air depends on a careful evaluation of
business _cost_ and a _support_ of the benefits each method affords. Picking the
best possible mode of transportation is _irrelevant_ to export success.

a. Selling / irrelevant / ensure / decision / costs / comparison / noncritical

b. Transporting / important / ensure / decision / needs / comparison /critical
c. Transporting / irrelevant / support / comparison / needs / assessment /critical
d. Selling / relevant / ensure / decision / needs / comparison / critical

4. Summarizing ideas visually

Based on the article, make a concept map or mind map with information related to modes of
transport. Remember to complete the diagram by writing on it only main ideas and key
information from the reading passage that deals with methods of international transport.

You can use the following graphic organizer model or the one you feel more comfortable
with. Try using the resources available on the following websites:
 INTERNACIONAL TRANSPORT

MODE

MARITME RAIL WAY ROAD AIR

TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION

TANKS TRAIN TRACTOR TRUCK AIR PLANE

Low speed of Lage mass Flexiblity in the High movement

transportation movement of transportaiton speed
which is tralated godos, low unit speed in delivering
merchadise safety. cost of movement high frequency of Low unit cost of
Economic rates delivering service movemet
Specializaed
equipment
equipment
diversity.
5. Matching headings

Headings are short sentences that summarize the information in a paragraph. You have to
pick the one that best summarizes the information in the following paragraphs. Match each
paragraph in the reading text to one heading. Be careful, there are always more headings than
paragraphs.

Headings

• Legal requirements needed to carry goods by road

• Rail transport uses
• Means of transportation
• Factors that influence company’s decision on which type of transport to use
• Rail transport benefits
• Difficulties of transporting goods by rail
• International transportation of goods by road
•
Paragraph 1: _MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION_

Road, sea, rail and air are four ways of import and export. As a first step the company has
to consider all part of their project, firstly, it is important what has to be distributed including
size, weight and which type of goods. For example, for the transportation of foods or fruits,
speed is important and it’s important to choose the shortest and quickest way. Sending cost
is another element very important and depends on the agency. Destination, countries’ law,
value of goods, risk of transport are other elements to be considered and depend on company,
country of destination and customers’ requirements. So who wants to deal with international
transportation has to balance quality, cost, time and conditions.
Paragraph 2: _DIFFICULTIES OS TRASNPORTATION GOODS BY RAIL_

Risks for rail transport:

• routes and timetables available can be inflexible, especially in remote regions

• can be more expensive than road transport
• mechanical failure or industrial action can disrupt services
• further transportation may be needed from a rail depot to the final destination,
increasing costs and affecting delivery schedules

Paragraph 3: _INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION_

The international transport of dangerous goods by road is subject to international

legislation, in particular the European Agreement on the International Carriage of
Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). Drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods must hold
an ADR training certificate in handling dangerous goods. All commercial vehicles that carry
dangerous goods must pass the ADR test, and some of them need to be built with special
standards.

Paragraph 4: _RAIL TRANSPORT BENEFITS_

Rail transport is a cost-effective and efficient way to move goods. It offers the following
advantages: fast rail network throughout Europe. It is environmentally friendly compared
with other transport systems.
6. Making comparisons

Based on the article on methods of international transport complete the following comparison
chart by listing the advantages and disadvantages of each mode of transportation.

Air transport See transport Road transport Rail transport

- Time and speed Speed Speed Electric

- Formaties Competitiveness Economic propulsion
- Security Single Flexibility Guide external
Advantages Documentationv

- Capacity Procedure Accident Low speed

- Cost Weather port restrictions coverang
- congestion
Disadvantages