Description

Students will identify the different modes of transportation available for companies’
logistics operations, as well as their main characteristics.

Objective

To identify the types of mode of transportation in companies’ logistics operations.

Requirements for the activity

Read diverse sources such as textbooks, specialized journals, or reliable webpages,

about the different modes of transportation available for companies to ship their goods
and raw materials. Identify the types of containers that exist for different modes of
transportation and the characteristics and functions of the product packing and
packaging.

Instructions

Part 1:

1. First, form teams and answer the following questions:

a. What are the modes of transportation that exist?

b. What are the advantages or strengths of each?
c. What are the disadvantages or weaknesses of each?

2. Then, elaborate a comparative table where you list in the horizontal axis the
different modes of transportation, and in the vertical axis the following
characteristics as a minimum:
a. Lead time.
b. Cost.
c. Service availability.
d. Accessibility.
e. Security of merchandise.
f. Special requirements in facilities.
g. Special requirements in packing/packaging.
h. Type of products that is convenient to transport in this mode.
 i. Type of products that is not convenient to transport in this mode.

Part 2:

3. Next, make a list of the five types of containers available for the four main
modes of transportation: land, rail, air, and maritime.

Types of containers for the modes of transportation

Land Rail Air Maritime
o Gondola truck o 50`boxcar o Car pallets o 20`bulk
o Tanker truck o Gondola rail o Isothermal container
o 48`and 53` dry car container o 20`and
van trailers o Hopper car o General 40`open top
o Open shipping o Tank car container container
o Flatbed for o Autorack o Pallet for o Flat rack
oversized load stacked boxes container
o Pallet with o ISO tank
stabilizers container
o 20`open side
container

4. With the information collected, elaborate a table where you specify as a

minimum the following characteristics:
a. Mode of transportation.
b. Capacity in volume and weight.
c. Type of products that is convenient to transport in this mode.
d. Special characteristics.

Land
Gondola Tanker
48` and Open Flatbed for
Truck truck
53`dry van shipping oversized
trailers load
Capacity in The Small 48ft length The The
volumen and capacities tanker with capacities capacities
weight and trucks capacity of and and
dimensions have a 3,490 cubic dimensions dimensions
vary capacity meters, and vary vary
depending of 3,000 53 ft with depending depending
of the needs gallons, capacity of of the needs of the needs
that each while 3,864 cubic that each that each
industry large meters. industry industry
 requires. tankers requires. requires.
have a
capacity
of 11,600
gallons.
Type of Vehicles Liquids General Bulk Oversized
products and or gas cargo that products heavy
machinery products requires that needs machinery
that needs protection of protection of
protection of the the
the environment environment
environment . .
.
Special Because of Tank The 53′ dry They are Doesn`t
characteristic their low trucks van is the ideal for protect
s side walls, are most storing long cargo
gondolas describe common lengths of against
are also d by their truckload materials or environment
suitable for size or trailer. pallets that .
the carriage volume These ones need to be
of such capacity. are loaded by
high-density Tanker designed to machine.
cargos. thickness transport a
is wide range
typically of freight
around safely.
0.195
inches.

Part 3:

5. In addition, elaborate a comparative table where you propose as a

minimum eight examples of logistics operations, using the four principal
means of transportation (land, air, maritime, and rail).

 Type of operation: export or import.

 Origin: port, airport, or terminal.
 Destination : port, airport, or terminal.
 Product.
 Mode of transportation.
  Type of container.
 Justification for such combination.

6. Finally, write a group conclusion on the importance of the different means

of transportation in international trade.