TRANSPORT TRAINING NOTES

UNIT ONE

DESCRIPTION OF TRANSPORT

Meaning of Transport

Transport refers to the activity that facilitates physical movement of goods as well as people
from one geographical place to another.

Transport can also be defined as the haulage/carriage of goods or people from one geographical
location to another where goods will realize better value and people will realize greater
satisfaction.

Important still, in other words transport is the movement of people or goods from one point to
other using different types of vehicles like trains, ships, aircrafts or animals etc.

Examples:

 Movement of people from Kariakoo to Kimara using buses

 Movement of people from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza using trains

 Movement of bags of maize from Sumbawanga to Morogoro using lorries

 Movement of people from Arusha to New York using aeroplanes

 Movement of Petroleum from Dar es Salam port to Ndola-Zambia using pipelines

Carriage or haulage involves two bodies: one carrying and the other being carried from one place
to another. However to a smaller extent haulage may also involve dragging, pushing or rolling
as a beetle moves dung balls.

A beetle moving a dung ball

 IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORT

The importance of transport can be found in our daily lives as categorized into economic, social
and political importance

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORT

Transport is important in agriculture, land utilization, manufacturing, physical distribution, trade

and specialization

The role of transport in agriculture

The importance of agriculture cannot be overemphasized because human life is mainly

dependent on it ever since the primitive man started farming. Almost everything we eat is an
agricultural product. Just like in manufacturing, transport plays a big role in agriculture by
moving farm inputs to the farms e.g. fertilizers, farm implements and personnel, and by moving
farm produce into godowns and finally distributing them to the markets for final consumption.
People are reluctant to invest in large scale farming, in Tanzania for example, because of lack of
transport in most areas of the country, and where it is available it is too expensive to afford for
most people. The country’s road density is low, the result of which is that large chunks of land
are undeveloped though they are fertile because there are no roads passing through them.

The role of transport in land utilization

An accessible piece of land has more value than one which is not. Apart from agriculture land
has many other uses, which include construction of buildings, mining, animal keeping, etc. All
these activities on the land require transport. Thus Tanzania’s low road density could be the
cause for poor development of most areas as argued above.

The role of transport in Manufacturing

Transport’s greatest role here is the movement of raw materials from their sources to the factory
site. In the course of manufacturing transport also helps to move workers from their residential
areas to the factories or offices and back home after working hours. Rid of waste materials is
also the role of transport when the dumping site is not within the factory premises.

The role of transport in Physical Distribution

Finished goods stock piled in the manufacturer’s warehouse is as good as not manufactured at all
if they are not sent to the consumers. Transport, therefore, accomplishes the process of
manufacturing by moving the finished goods from the warehouses to different consumers.

The role of transport in Specialization and division of labour

The availability of transport in a given area facilitates specialization in that area. Although
people of a given region or area literally consume almost everything, on one hand, they cannot
produce everything on the other hand, unfortunately. There are many factors which limit people
of a given area from producing everything they consume. Geographical conditions and
availability of raw materials are among them. However because of the availability of transport
services, people of a given area can optimize the production of the goods for which they are best
suited. By exchanging surplus of their goods with other goods from somewhere else they can
consume the goods they cannot produce. Therefore specialization and goods exchange are
facilitated by transport

The role of transport in Trade

Trade involves exchange of products most of which are physical. The fact that people involved
in the trading in most cases do not live in the same area is evidence that transport plays a very
big role in transporting people to the trading location. Thus transport is the key catalyst of the
business

SOCIAL IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORT

Transport is important in the provision health, education, recreations, sports and games and
religious services.

Social satisfaction depends on the goods and services which cannot be produced without
involving transport. Health, education, recreation, sports and games and religious services
require transport, both in their creation and provision. Doctors, teachers, coaches and religious
leaders will always need transport to reach their clients to provide the required services. Their
respective clients may be required to move from one centre to another in order to get their
required services. They cannot do so without the contribution of transport.

POLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORT

  Security of a nation is another crucial aspect in times of civil or cross boarder political
conflicts or war. Transport availability at any time is paramount so that the security
personnel or troops with their respective equipment can move to any area of action
without delay.
 The most important aspect in politics is the feeling of oneness or unity of the people of a
nation. This is achieved only when the people can easily intermingle among themselves
thus, transport helps political leaders to have political audience with people and easily
share or exchange their experiences.
 It facilities provision of rescue services, food, medicine and shelter to victims of natural
hazards- floods, earthquake, etc

NB. All these require a good and adequate transport system to help people move about and
politicians to move wherever they are required.

The importance of transport can also be explained as follows: Transport

a. Makes available raw materials to manufacturers or producers: Transport makes it
possible to carry raw materials from places where they are available, to places where they can be
processed and assembled into finished goods. At the point of production, the raw materials are
processed to semi-processed or full processed products ready for consumption.
Examples;
 Transportation of sugarcane from farmers to sugar factory at Kilombero
 Transportation of raw cotton from cotton farmers to a cotton ginnery in Mwanza City
 Transportation of cow skin from Shinyanga village to a shoe factory in Dar es Salaam

b. Makes available goods to consumers (movement of semi-processed or full processed

products from the factory to final consumers of products): Transport makes possible
movement of goods from one place to another with great ease and speed. Thus, consumers
spread in different parts of the country have the benefit of consuming goods produced at distant
places.
Examples;
  Transportation of sugar from Kilombero sugar factory to Dar es Salaam supermarkets,
Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) ready for consumption. Here lorries, trains may be
used
c. Enhances standard of living: Easy means of transport facilitates large-scale production at
low costs. It gives consumers the choice to make use of different quantities of goods at different
prices. So it raises the standard of living of the people.

d. Helps during emergencies and natural calamities: In times of national crisis/political

unrest, due to war or internal disturbance, transport helps in quick movement of troops and the
supplies needed in the operation. Also the victims of natural calamities can be provided with
basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, clothes as well as medical and rescue services.
e. Helps in creation of employment: Transport provides employment opportunities to
individuals such as drivers, conductors, pilots, cabin crew, captain of the ship, etc. who are
directly engaged in transport business. It also provides employment to people indirectly in the
industries producing various means of transport and other transport equipments.
People can also provide repairing and maintenance services by opening service centres at
convenient locations.
f. Helps in labour mobility: Transport helps a lot in providing mobility to workers.
You may be aware that people from our country go to foreign countries to work in different
industries and factories. Foreigners also come to Tanzania or else to work. In Tanzania, people
also move from one location to another due to pull and push factors 1. Similarly, it is not always
possible to have workers near the factory. Most industries have their own transport system to
bring the workers from where they reside to the place of work and take them home after working
hours.
g. Helps in bringing nations together: Transport facilitates movement of people from one
country to another. It helps in exchange of cultures, views and practices between the people of

1
Push factors include land degradation, lack of adequate land, unequal land distribution, droughts, storms, floods,
religious and other conflicts, wars, pressure of rural population and local economic decline. Pull factors include
urban employment opportunities, high incomes, urban convenience, joining relatives, access to health care,
education opportunities etc.
different countries. This brings about greater understanding among people and awareness about
different countries. Thus, it helps to promote a feeling of international brotherhood.

Disadvantages of Transport
i. Environmental pollution
The biggest disadvantage of transportation is the impacts on the environment in the form of
pollution. Not only do vehicle emissions like smokes and carbon gases from fossil fuels contain
pollutants, but materials routinely needed for proper maintenance also pollute the environment.
Also oil spillage in the sea is another form of pollution.

ii. Accidents
These claim people’s life, cause heavy loss of properties as well as physical disabilities.

iii. Deforestation
During the process of building terminals and ways such as airports, railways, highways, roads,
etc.
iv. High cost of infrastructure provision and vehicles
The provision of airports, railways, roads, seaports, pipelines as well as vessels like airplanes,
ships, trains etc. is very expensive.

Objective of Transport

The primary objective of transport is safe arrival to a new geographical location of goods where
their value is greater, and of people where they realize more satisfaction over something.

Qualities of Transport Service (Factors determining the quality of the transport product)
The service quality is determined by the user’s perception: The extent to which his needs are
satisfied by a particular service. The greater the need satisfaction the better the service provided;
the lower the satisfaction the poor the service provided. Service quality measures how well a
service is delivered compared to customer expectations. Businesses that meet or exceed
expectations are considered to have high service quality.

The qualities of a transport service include:

Safety: This refers to the condition/state of being safe; freedom from danger or harm, risk, or
injury. In other words safety means relative freedom from danger, risk, or threat of harm, injury,
or loss to personnel and/or property, whether caused deliberately or by accident.

Speed: the time taken to cover the distance between two points, including time taken to load and
offload commodities. It refers to the total time taken from the origin to destination. It has advan-
tages on both passenger and goods transport.

Capacity: the potential or suitability for holding, storing, or accommodating for example a bus
with a 60 passengers seat capacity. Transport capacity can be defined in three different ways:
the static or holding capacity, the handling capacity, the working capacity

Reliability: A reliable transport service is one, which is timely and regular i.e. ability to perform
according to expectations e.g. keeping schedules or planned dispatches.

Affordability: The service being provided should be affordable by transport customers

(passengers).

Comfort: Personal comfort is considered an essential. Physical comfort includes suitable seats
or standing room, ventilation, temperature control, etc. Also availability of suitable facilities at
the embarking and disembarking points. This is limited to human being transportation

Accessibility: An indication of how easy it is for the user to reach the service itself or the enter-
prise in case of any problem. Ability to use the service easily should be the basic requirement.
Road transport has the easiest accessibility and also used to gain access to other transport modes

Regularity: Time interval between trips on a given route. The smaller the time interval between
trips, the higher the frequency, and the bigger the time interval, the lower the frequency

Frequency: How often services are offered on a given route. Since the movement of traffic is
non-continuous and unbroken, the number of services in a given period is therefore important to
users.
UNIT TWO
 TRANSPORT SYSTEM

A system is a set of different parts which work interdependently towards achieving a common
goal. The transport system is formed by interrelated subsystems namely modes of transport.
These subsystems are road, rail, water, air and pipeline transport. The first four modes of
transport involve both passenger and goods transportation while pipeline transport involves
goods transportation only.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Transport Modes

The fact that the different modes have different comparative advantages and disadvantages over
different types of haulage is the main reason or rationale for the modes coexistence.

As each mode’s advantages and disadvantages are listed below you may try to visualize the
circumstances that provide the advantages and disadvantages to the other modes.

We can now enumerate advantages and disadvantages of the principal modes of transport to find
out as to which transport system is suitable for the particular kind of traffic.

ROAD TRANSPORT

Advantages
1. It offers door to door services
2. It is economical and handy for short distance small lot traffic.
3. It penetrates to the most remote areas-villages and even farms, mining sites, forests and
game reserves.
4. Its speed is relatively high making it suitable for perishable goods haulage.
5. It is comparatively easy to own privately and operate.
6. Serves as feeder to air, railway and sea transport
7. It is flexible i.e. elastic in mobility
8. Suitable for both passengers and goods
9. Easily available
10. Suitable for urban passenger traffic
Disadvantages

1. The way is used by sundry users, forcing the carrying units to be of limited sizes/capacities.
2. It is the most unsafe mode of transport, because of sharing of the way the mode’s vehicle
are more vulnerable to accidents.
3. Its way is artificial hence must be constructed and maintained at a cost.
4. Its vehicles guidance is completely dependent on the driver.
5. Because of sharing of the way its operational schedules are comparatively unreliable
/changeable.
6. Restrictions on heavy vehicles in certain localities
7. Creates congestion
8. Causes air pollution, and noise more than others

RAIL TRANSPORT
Advantages
1. Its way is private-enabling its carrying units to be quite large.
2. Because of the privacy of the way railways operational schedules can be highly reliable.
3. It is economical and suitable for bulk long distance haulages
4. It’s one of the safest modes of transport i.e. its rolling stock guidance is automatic,
making it quite safe
5. Because of the large carrying units railway can comparatively offer many amenities to
passenger traffic e.g. sleeping facilities, toilets, canteens (gives comfortable ride and
provides amenities to passengers)
6. Suitable for commuter traffic
7. Suitable for long and medium distance

8. It is comparatively cheap

9. Railway is the safest form of transport. The chances of accidents and breakdown of railways
are minimum as compared to other modes of transport. Moreover, the traffic can be pro-
tected from the exposure to sun, rain, snow etc.

10. The carrying capacity of the railways is extremely large. Moreover, its capacity is elastic
which can easily be increased by adding more wagons
 Disadvantages

 It is the most rigid/inflexible mode of transport.

 Because of the specialized and private way an accident on the way (e.g. derailment) can
paralyze the whole system.
 For single-track railways lines trains crossing can take place only at terminals.
 The specialized way requires precise technology in construction and maintenance. It is thus
very costly both to construct and maintain.
 Trains cannot go up high gradients; the way must go round even small hills, thus elongating
travel distance between stations.
 The way is vulnerable to sabotage.
 It is comparatively slow
 Not frequent services
 Absence of door to door delivery
 Railway transport is unsuitable and uneconomical for short distances and small traffic of
goods.

WATER TRANSPORT
Advantages
1. Its way is provided by nature; no cost of construction or maintenance is required.
2. Its carrying units have no limit in size; thus it is a bulk-long distance carrier/transporter.
3. Because of its lowest cost per unit carried it is the cheapest mode of transport. It is
cheaper than other modes of transport since there are no costs which are involved in
constructing water ways as it is for roads and railways.
4. Because of large size carrying units the mode can provide amenities that can be provided by
an onshore hotel-including games pitches
5. It is suitable for transporting fragile goods
6. It is economical for large quantity of goods than other means of transport
7. The risks of accidents are less than other means of transports
8. It is comparatively safe transport
Disadvantages
1. It is the slowest mode of transport.
2. Because of the slow speed it is not suitable for long distance passenger transportation.
3. It is not suitable for sensitive or perishable traffic.
4. It requires costly navigational aids near ports.
5. It is uneconomical when the quantity of goods is small
6. It is inflexible since it cannot be used in areas where there are no water bodies
7. The amount of loss is incomparable to other means of transports in case of accidents
8. Port congestion may lead to delay
9. Too much documentation and formalities at seaports
10. It is the among insecure mode of transport

AIR TRANSPORT

Advantages
1. It is the fastest mode of transport.
2. It is suitable for passenger long distance travel.
3. Its way is provided by nature – no cost for construction or maintenance.
4. Its routes are unobstructed by any land features i.e.no physical barriers e.g. swamps or
mountains (bee-line routes from source to destination)
5. It is suitable and economical for valuables and perishables.
6. It has a time saving element
7. Gives comfortable ride and provides amenities to passengers

Disadvantages
 It does not offer door-to-door services. Airports are far away from city centers.
 It is the most expensive mode (highest operating cost)
 In case of any mishap it cannot be maintained enroute.
 It requires highly sophisticated navigational aids within aircrafts or at terminals (airports)
 Its navigation is heavily dependent on controllers at airports.

PIPELINE TRANSPORT
Pipeline transport refers to the transportation of materials or goods through a pipe. Pipelines are
primarily used to move petroleum, natural gas, and chemicals. Oil pipelines are made from steel
or plastic tubes which are usually buried. The oil is moved through the pipelines by pump
stations along the pipeline. For suitable commodities, pipelines are the most efficient mode of
transport. Pneumatic tubes using compressed air can be used to transport solid capsules. They
offer a closed system with little risk of loss or damage to the products moved, and extremely low
costs because minimal labour is involved in their operation. However, they typically serve a
limited geographic area over routes that are virtually fixed. In addition, they only offer one-way
service, although product can move 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Unfortunately, also
there is a danger that pipelines are tapped. Explosions can develop. This is a danger to life and
property. Terminals for pipelines take the form of pumping and tank farms, act as a buffer zone,
where cargoes arriving out of phase with the demand can be stored until required.

Pipelines are dangerous. There are criminals, who tap these lines, in order to steal the content being trans-
mitted. Here mortal danger exists for all persons.
Advantages

1. Its way is a carrying unit as well.

2. With exception of maritime tankers it is the cheapest mode in liquid transportation.
3. Requires minimum man-power, that is, not labour intensive (it is manpower efficient).
4. It is easy to run and control.
5. It is environmentally friendly.
6. Unaffected by congestion or bad weather
7. Suitable for all distances
8. No packaging required
9. No danger of losses, damage or pilferage in transit
10. Provides continuous and regular flow of traffic, that is, 24 hours operation
11. Provides direct delivery, that is, door to door services

Disadvantages
1. The mode carries one-way traffic (cannot be used for two-way
traffic)
2. It cannot be used to transport passengers
3. It is vulnerable to sabotage
4. Different commodities cannot be mixed

CHOOSING MEANS OF TRANSPORT

The following factors must be taken into consideration when choosing means of transport;
i. The kind (nature of goods); fragile and perishable goods need special handling and extra care
ii. Weight of goods; heavy goods may be more economically sent through slower means of
transport
iii. The bulk of goods; bulky goods cannot always be carried by road or air; sea transport would
be suitable for such goods
iv. The speed and urgency; goods required urgently are best sent by air
v. The cost of transport; the cost of transporting an item should be in reasonable proportion to
its value. Only in cases of acute urgency can this factor be overlooked.
vi. The distance; for shorter distances road transport is best, for longer distances the railway
may be advisable and for very long distances sea transport may suit most
vii. Terminals; if goods are to be sent by railway, air or sea, there must be appropriate terminals
near both loading and off loading points
PHYSICAL COMPONENTS OF A TRANSPORT MODE OR ELEMENTS OF
TRANSPORT

For transportation to take place there must be means to affect it. There must be a way through
which the haulage takes place. The carrying unit in or on which the hauled body is placed during
the haulage is also necessary. The motive power is necessary to effect transportation by
propelling the carriage forward or along the way. There must be some facilities to plan, originate
and end the haulage which is collectively referred to as the terminal. The way, the terminal, the
carrying unit and the motive power are called the physical components of a transport mode.

The general functions or significances of physical components are as follows;

The Way: The route or path along which traffic moves

Functions of the way;

 Provide support to the carrying unit. For the carrying unit to be propelled forward there
must be enough support to counterbalance the body’s weight (gravitation force)

 To provide a route or direction

The Terminal: Is a place where passenger/freight boarding/loading and disembarking/unloading

or traffic transfers from one mode to another takes place

Terminal comes from the word terminate. A terminal is the furthest point to which something
extends. In transport a terminal is more than that, it includes all points on the way where the
following functions take place.

i Maintenance and servicing of transport units both the carrying units and the motive
power

ii Traffic concentration- traffic is collected at this place to enhance full loads to both
passenger and goods carrying units. The terminal acts as a feeder point.

iii Warehousing - storage of traffic

iv Loading and unloading or embarking and disembarking

v Classification
 vi Interchange. This involves transit goods. It facilitates smooth flow of traffic from one
mode of transport to another.

vii Interface-this is the location where two or more modes of transport end or start their
routes or where one mode ends and the other starts. Such location is normally developed
into a terminal. The most common is the sea port where land modes on one side face the
sea transport on the side.

viii Controlling of transport units especially in air, rail, and water transport modes

ix Re - consigning: at intermediate or transit terminals where goods may have to be re-

consigned (after sorting) to their final destination. (Consign = to send (something) to a
person or place of sale)

The Carrying Unit: The vehicle; an instrument that performs the load (passenger/freight)
containment function.

Functions;

i To hold goods or people to enhance convenience to the carrier during haulage (Carrier =
a person or business that carries goods or passengers from one place to another for
payment)

ii To protect goods and people from bad weather

iii To provide security to goods against pilferage

The Motive Power: An instrument that drives/moves the carrying unit. It is alternatively termed
as Power Unit.

Functions of Power Unit;

i To propel the carrying unit forward to effect the required change in location of goods or
people carried.

ii To provide power to the carrying unit (that is to produce electricity for other uses for
instance communication and lighting)
UNIT 3: PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION

Passenger: a person who is traveling from one place to another in a car, bus, train, ship, air-
plane, etc., and who is not driving or working on it. The passenger can be using any mode of
transport for example, water, road, air or rail. There are two kinds of passengers that are local/na-
tional passengers and international passengers.

i) Local/national passengers are those passengers travelling from one place to another
within national boundaries. For example a trip from Dodoma to Mbeya. Local passen-
gers incur low transport costs to travel from one point to another. They mostly use
railway or road transport to travel around the country. They are also free to travel to-
gether with their luggage during the journey.
ii) International passengers refer to the people who travel from one place to another
across national borders. For example a journey from Tanzania to China. High trans-
port costs are imposed on international passengers due to long distance and mode of
transport used. These passengers mostly use air transport. Passengers do not travel to-
gether with their luggage especially in air transport; goods are transported while kept
separate from passengers.

DOCUMENTS USED TO RECORD PASSENGERS AND GOODS DURING TRANS-

PORTATION;
A manifest is a document which contains either a list of cargo or passengers and crew in a
ship, aircraft, train or vehicle for use of customs and other officials. Manifests are divided
into two types, which are Passenger Manifest and Goods Manifest.
i. Passenger Manifest; this is the document which contains the list of passengers in a
vehicle, ship, train and aircraft .It contains the following information such as;
• Full name of the passenger and contact (telephone number)
• Age
• Gender
• Date of departure
 • Place of departure
• The point of destination
• Name of pilot/driver/captain
• Driver’s license number
• Conductor’s name
• Vehicle’s license number
• Passport number
• Physical address of the passenger
• Vehicle Registration number e.g. bus registration number
• Route concerned
• Ticket number
• Nationality of passenger
• Fare charges
• Departure time
• Arrival time
• Date of journey
• Total number of passengers
• Crew number
• Etc.
ii. Goods Manifest refers to the shipping document which contains the list of goods in
vehicle, ship, aircraft and train. Cargo manifest might be used for shipments made by
sea, air, or land, and will generally show the shipment’s consignor and consignee, as
well as listing product details such as number, value, origin and destination. This doc-
ument contains the following details/information;
• Nature of goods/cargo
• Weight of goods
• Name of packages with identifying mark
• Departure terminal
• Arrival terminal
• Value of goods
• The owner or operator
 • The person that receive cargo
• Date of loading and unloading
• Shipper’s name and nationality of vessel
LIFE TIME OF PASSENGER AND CARGO MANIFEST
• The life time of passenger manifest is limited in time, it concerns when passengers
travel from origin and arrive to destination, after arrival the life time of passenger mani-
fest will be closed.
• The life time of cargo manifest is unlimited till the cargo arrives to the owners of cargo
or goods. This is due to the fact that when emergencies occur it helps to know the type
cargo, owners, size, weight and some important information about the nature of the
goods.
THE ESSENCE OF BOTH PASSENGER AND GOODS MANIFEST
• It helps to determine information about passengers and goods e.g. full name of passenger,
value of goods, name of driver, place of departure, nature of goods etc. can be obtained
from the manifest
• It is very useful in writing accident report
• It helps to know owners of goods during the transportation process
• It helps in calculation of costs incurred and profits.
• It helps in safety and security
• It acts as a reference document
• It gives out evidence about goods
• It is very useful for tax authorities in determining tax rate to be paid by a transport com-
pany
Generally, Manifest is very important in transport sector because it leads to giving out differ-
ent information that will be helpful in case of any emergency or will be helpful in the future
to avoid further losses or will lead to giving out data or details that will assist the transporta-
tion company or industry in making calculations, analysis and decisions.
3.1 ROAD PASSENGER TRANSPORT

There are different kinds of road passenger services depending on types or characteristics of the
passengers. The following list is not exhaustive:
 1. Urban and sub urban services
2. Intra and Intercity services
3. Tourist services
4. Excursion services for special groups (occasional)
5. School Bus services
6. Private Bus service
The users or customers to these services have peculiar needs or demand such that a bus operator
is obliged to offer special services that must satisfy these needs. As a result there are as many
kinds of bus transport services as there are different kinds of demands provided there be enough
demand to justify such services.

Urban and Sub-Urban Passenger Transportation

Because of better employment opportunities and social services that are found in large cities and
towns most of the developed country populations live in urban centers. In developing countries
there is an ever-increasing migration of people from villages (rural area) into the cities due to
pull and push factors. Like molecules in a jug of water city dwellers are ever dynamic or mobile,
intermingling and flowing in all directions of all the interweaving urban roads! Thus demand for
transport in urban areas is very complex and poses a big challenge to city planners. The
challenge in developing countries is greater than in developed ones. In the former demand
increase is greater than the resource mobilization for the purpose of providing at least the basic
transport requirements

Rapid Urbanization

It is both an advantage and a disadvantage:

- An advantage because it is easier and economical to the Government to

provide social and economic services to a concentrated population than to a dispersed one.
- A disadvantage because of the transport problems it creates as shall be
discussed later. A series of problems multiply when the government cannot provide
adequate social and economic services e.g eruption of epidemics when housing and
sanitary services are not provided adequately.
Urban Transport
It can be defined as a means of providing mobility and accessibility in order to integrate urban
population in an urban economy which in turn takes care of the social political factors.

Features of Urban Passenger Transport

1. It involves short distance (relatively) with many terminals
2. It involves mostly captive passengers i.e. who must travel at the time they pose
3. Its passengers, called commuters, are mostly unaccompanied by luggage or parcels.
They can commute while standing
4. Punctuality is counted down to a few minutes
5. It involves heavily congested roads and streets or avenues
6. Traffic (both passenger and road users) is almost one directional during peak hours.
7. It does not require booking
8. Its terminals are numerous and simple.

Functions of Urban Road Passenger Transport

Urban road passenger transport system has its own distinguishing functions. Some of them are:

a) It contributes to the large economies of scale and specialization associated with

urban growth.
b) It facilitates concentration of employment and production in urban centre.
c) It links the services of intercity routes of road transport serving the hinterland. It
also acts as a link between various modes’ terminals within the city e.g.
Airport - bus stations
Airport - sea port
Airport - railway station etc.
d) It offers options for work to urban dwellers
e) It gives access to workplace; social centers e.g. schools etc. and other utilities.
Urban Road Passenger Problem
The basic problem in developing countries is the failure to provide the minimum transport inputs
for its various functions and purpose within very limited resources.

The patterns of urban transport systems in all cities have characteristics of their own. Each city
has a different pattern of transport system. Thus each city’s problems require unique analysis
and solution. In other words strategies taken to solve problems of city X may not necessarily be
used to solve problems of city Y.

Most urban transport problems in developing countries are the creation of post independence
developments – the most damaging trend is the haphazard manner in which cities were allowed
to grow due to administrative laxities which allowed transport to function and grow
unchallenged, unchecked in the law breaking spree.

Urban physical pattern and urban transport network are closely interlinked because on one hand
the physical patterns of large cities influence the merits of the variety of transport systems; on the
other hand the urban transport system determines the direction of growth of urban physical
patterns. These include public utilities, industrial sites, residential areas which provide the urban
form and urban transport system together.

The urban transport problems are based on its main objective which is:
To carry the mass commuters at the time they offer to their destinations by mode of their choice.
The underlined phrases of the objective are very difficult to satisfy and hence the roots of urban
transport problems. In other words an ideal urban transport system is one which would carry:
- all commuters
- at the time they offer
- to their final destination
- each one by a mode of his/her choice
In practice, there is no an urban transport system that can carry each and every commuter from
where he offers himself to where he would like to be at the right time and by a mode of his
choice.

Some commuters must walk long distances to a bus terminal because road network is not
adequate.
Delays caused by congestion, or poor roads, or few bases, or poor management etc. may cause
commuters to wait for several minutes at a terminal before a bus/train comes.

At end of journey again some commuter may be forced to walk long distances to their final
destinations (road net-work not adequate).

In most cases the road mode only is used because establishing other urban transport subsystems
is either too costly or city plan did not include it such that the contraction of the systems may
mean pulling down some of the city centre buildings!

Congestion
Congestion is situations where by the users of a facility are more than the intended number or
volume such that the service offered by the facility is done at a slow unwanted speed

Major Causes of Congestion

1. High level of private car ownership; each motorist wants to use his vehicle up to the city
centre
2. Poor management of public buses reduces the quality (and quantity sometimes), which
discourages private car owners to use public buses.
3. Poor facilities or non-existence of them for pedestrians and cyclists, a factor which pushes
them into the roads.
4. Poor roads and terminal facilities
- poor road surface
- short and narrow terminals
- narrow roads (single lane)
5. Some cities have poor built up patterns in inner circles leaving no ribbon for future
expansion of urban roads thus obstructing the improvement.

Effects of Congestion

Congestion of any facility is an unwanted thing. Road congestion has the following detriments
1. It increase vehicle operating cost for instance: fuel used during idle engine running,
frequent braking and gear change (tear & wear)
2. It increases travel time (urban dwellers/commuters are very sensitive to time-even a few
minutes matter)
3. It facilitate/increases chances for accidents
4. It causes discomfort to commuters
5. It increase labour costs to a variety of employers (many man-hour are lost on road)

Possible Solutions

Although there are no universal solutions to urban transport problems as noted earlier real
solutions can be sought in the following general solutions, which are summarised in three kinds
as follows:

a) Ensuring more rational use of transport facilities (the way) in congested areas:
- Administrative measures – staggering working hours,
- Physical restriction: e.g. larger vehicles not to use some roads;
- Charging vehicles using some roads/parking etc.
- Traffic engineering: e.g. traffic lights etc.

b) Improving efficiency and quality of transport undertaking including proper coordination

and satellite terminals;
- This may attract some private motorists to use public transport i.e. reducing
number of vehicles in city centers.

c) Reducing Transport Requirement;

- This is a long term solution which involves changing physical patterns in large
cities;e.g. redistribution of public utilities like schools, hospitals, new markets –
even banks, offices, industrial sites and residential areas.
 It is aimed at distribution of traffic flow both in volume and direction on a wider area and
more coordinated pattern. Public utilities, industrial and residential areas are planned in
such way that the overall transport requirement is reduced.

INTERCITY ROAD PASSENGER TRANSPORT

It is the means of providing mobility of passengers between cities, towns or between towns and
cities.

Features of Intercity Road Passenger Transport

The planning and provision of this kind of road passenger transportation is determined, mainly,
by its features which are as listed here under.

1. It involves relatively long distances, which in turn means long travel times, calling for
comfortable seats with enough legroom. It is for this reason that intercity buses are
sometimes referred to as coaches.
2. Most intercity passengers are accompanied by luggage and parcels. This calls for the
buses/coaches to have enough space under the seat floor for heavy luggage and overhead
rackets for parcels.
3. It requires prior - trip booking. This calls for elaborate booking facilities
4. Its terminals are few and complex with a number of amenities to suit the logistics of
intercity passengers, which includes waiting lunges, canteens and toilets, etc.
5. It involves roads or ways, which are congestion free and allow high speeds. This in turn
gives room to high vehicle utilization in terms of kilometers per day and low fuel
consumption (litre/km) because idle engine runs are minimum.
6. Peak periods are in terms of seasons and not hours as it is with urban transport. Even so,
however, empty or partial load runs are not as serious as those of commuter buses during
peak hours.

The Intercity Bus Terminal

The logistics and characteristics of intercity passenger bus terminals are necessarily complex
with many amenities as follows:
1. Waiting Lounges:
They are provided with seats, toilets and canteens to serve passengers who in most cases
have to report several minutes, even hours, before departure. Early reporting may be due
to early arrivals of other coordinated transport means.

2. Overnight Facilities:
Early departures or late arrivals of intercity buses sometimes force passengers to spend a
night at the terminals. Thus comfortable sleeping rooms and canteens of differentiated
standards should be established to suit various classes of passengers.

3. Cloak Room:
This is a special room where passengers can keep their luggage for a while so that they
may attend to other issues before departure or collect them later to their convenience.
Normally a passenger has to pay a minimum charge for the service.

4. Public Address System:

The terminal officials use this system to make various announcements e.g. helping hosts to
find their arriving guests, notifying passengers about a change in bus departure time, etc.

5. A Post Office or Telephone Booths

To facilitate passengers communicate with relatives elsewhere.

6. Taxi Bay:
To facilitate door to door services by taxis for arriving or departing passengers.

7. Police Post:
To provide general security to passengers as well as the terminal officials and various
terminal assets

8. Transit Shed:
Some passengers with many luggages may wish to present their luggages a day before the
journey. Some passengers leave behind part of their luggage after arrival
(unclaimed/misplaced luggage). A well-established bus terminal will have a secure room
to keep all these before they are loaded or claimed.
 PRIVATE BUS SERVICES
A private bus is one, which offers services to specific customers or groups of people
mostly on regular basis. Normally private buses operate short routes, hence being
common in urban centers. Most of them offer services, which have been prepaid for on
monthly or annual basis, e.g. those hired by employers to take employees to and from their
work places. They also include those owned by the employer.
SCHOOL BUS SERVICES
These are special private bus services whose passengers are school children, which may
include accompanying teachers.

EXERCUSION BUS SERVICES

These are occasional services whereby groups of people jointly hire a bus to their desired
destination. The next group, on an unknown day or time may hire the same bus to a
different destination. Examples of such groups are sports teams, choir groups, seminar
participants, etc.

Execution bus operators may specialize on this kind of transportation, or one can maintain
a certain portion of one’s fleet of buses special for execution services.

TOURIST BUS SERVICES

Any of the above can be a tourist bus service so long as its destination is a tourist attraction
and that its passenger are tourists; or it operates along tourist routes to facilitate tourism.
Tourist buses can operate in urban centers, intercity or rural routes.

DIFFICULT PASSENGER

Passenger: a person who is traveling from one place to another in a car, bus, train, ship, air-
plane, etc., and who is not driving or working on it

Passengers are among the customers who need transport related services. If he does not get the
right service at the right time in the right place he may turn to be difficult one.

Causes of passenger anger;

  Delay of departure/arrival
 Misinformation to passengers
 Mishandling of passengers on arrival
 Passenger call not attended
 Amenities not available
 Vegetarian meal not given
 Passenger not getting what he asked for

The customer may always be right, but that doesn't mean all customers are easy to deal with.
Anyone who's ever worked in customer service can tell you, customers can be downright unruly.
Still, if you want to stay in business, you've got to deal with them. Finding techniques that help
you disarm unhappy customers and win them to your site is the key to providing great customer
service – even when you really want to kick nasty customers to the curb.

10 tips on how to turn a bad customer service situation into an opportunity to improve your busi-
ness.

First and foremost - listen. Do not try to talk over the customers or argue with them. Let the
customer have their say, even if you know what they are going to say next, and even if they may
not have all the information or be mistaken. As you listen, take the opportunity to build rapport
with the customer.

Build rapport through empathy. Put yourself in the customer's shoes. Echo (report) back the
source of their frustration and show that you understand their position and situation. If you can
identify with a customer's issue, it will help calm them down. If you verbally "nod" during the
call, the customer will feel better understood.

Lower your voice. If the customer gets louder, start speaking more slowly and in a lower tone.
Your calm demeanor will reflect on them and will help them to settle down. As you approach the
situation with a calm, clear mind, unaffected by the customer's tone or volume, anger will gener-
ally dissipate.
Assume all your customers are watching. Pretend you are not talking only to the customer but
to an audience that is watching the interaction. This shift in perspective can provide an emotional
buffer if the customer is being verbally abusive and will allow you to think more clearly when
responding. Since an unruly customer can be a negative referral, assuming they'll repeat the con-
versation to other potential customers can help ensure you've done your best to address their con-
cerns in a calming way.

Know when to give in. If satisfying the customer is going to take two hours and risk negative re-
ferrals, it is probably better to draw a compromise a bit more in their favor to give you more time
to nurture your more productive customer relationships. Keep in mind that the interaction is not
typical of most customers, and that you're dealing with an exception.

Never get angry or upset. If the customer is swearing or being verbally abusive, take a deep
breath and continue as if you didn't hear them. Responding in kind will not solve anything, and it
will usually escalate the situation in a negative direction. Instead, remind the customer that you
are there to help them and their best immediate chance of resolving the situation - often this sim-
ple statement will help defuse the situation.

Never take it personally. Always speak to the issue at hand and do not get personal, even if the
customer does. Remember that the customer doesn't know you and they're just venting frustra-
tion at you as a representative of your company. Gently guide the conversation back to the issue
and how you intend to resolve it, and try to ignore personal comments.

Remember that you're interacting with a human. Everyone has bad days. Maybe they had a
fight with their spouse, got a traffic ticket that morning or have had a run of bad luck. We've all
been there, to some degree. Try to help make their day better by being a pleasant, calming voice
– it'll make you feel good too.

If you promise a callback - call back! Even if you promised an update that you don't have yet,
call the customer at the scheduled time anyway. The customer will be reassured to know that you
were not trying to dodge them and will appreciate the follow-up.
Summarize the next steps. At the end of the call, let the customer know exactly what to expect
and then be sure to follow through on your promises. Document the call to ensure you’re well
prepared for the next interaction.

Alternative ways of serving a very difficult client are as follows:

• Apologise. The first and foremost thing you should do to a difficult or dissatisfied cus-
tomer is to apologise. It is only after an apology has been made that you can continue
with other actions regarding the situation at hand.

• Listen. Whatever the problem or complaint, it is important to your customer. Give them
your full attention and allow them a reasonable time to explain their frustration.

• Acknowledge. Whether you agree or not, tell them that you hear what they are saying.
Active listening involves voicing their concerns back to them, letting them know “I un-
derstand how you feel”. Then calmly explain how you can either resolve their issue or
seek more information from them.

• Don’t take it personally.  When a customer becomes difficult, they are venting their emo-
tions.  It’s all about them, not you. Allowing them to express their anger might just take
some steam out of their argument. Not becoming caught up in their drama lets you keep a
cool head.

• Respect yourself – and them.  You don’t have to be subjected to rude comments or in-
sults. If a customer becomes abusive, explain that you will be happy to discuss the issue
when they calm down. This might involve taking a break from your conversation and
speaking with them later.

• Forgive.  Everybody gets difficult at times. There could be a hundred reasons they are
frustrated that has nothing to do with you.  Let go of your own anger and hurt from the
situation, and try to move on. Holding a grudge against other people only hurts us. Be
kind to yourself.

• Respond with kindness.  It’s amazing how a situation can be defused when we respond
with a kind word instead of fueling the fire.  Let them know you will do everything possi-
 ble to find a suitable resolution.  This allows your customer to relax and become less de-
fensive.

• Seek resolution.  Even though you believe your difficult customer is being unreasonable,
try to find a compromise if possible.  They will feel better knowing that you have taken
their concerns seriously. Deal with the situation as calmly as you can, and put the issue to
rest so that you can focus on your business.

• Keep it in Perspective.  It could always be worse. Consider the worse possible scenario,
and then count your blessings!
CARRYING UNITS

Road passenger transport

The carrying units for road passenger transport:
The carrying unit for road transport is called the vehicle. The roads vehicles include cars, buses,
coaches, motorcycles, bicycles.
Buses- operate on short distances
Coaches - cater for long distances with limited stops, special hire and private tours.
Buses and coaches may be three wheeled, articulated buses, single and double decker buses.

Articulated bus

DOUBLE DECKER BUS

A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or decks. Double-decker buses are used for
mass transit in the United Kingdom, an iconic example being the red London bus. Double-decker
buses are also used in other cities in Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protec-
torates such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Canada.
Early double-deckers put the driver in a separate cab. Passenger access was via an open platform
at the rear, and a conductor would collect fares. Modern double-deckers have a main entrance
door at the front, and the driver takes fares, thus halving the number of bus workers aboard, but
slowing the boarding process. The rear open platform, popular with passengers, was abandoned
for "health and safety" reasons.
Double-deckers are primarily for commuter transport but open-top models are used as sight-see-
ing buses for tourists. 
DOUBLE DECK COACH

Services
Buses usually operate as part of a scheduled service, dropping off and picking up at various, frequent in -
tervals, such as a school bus or public transportation bus. Coaches refer to a more luxurious form of bus.
Coaches may make stops, but they tend to be more infrequent. Coaches are more likely to be chartered for
long distances, such as between cities or even between countries.

Comforts
Coaches provide comforts that buses do not have. Due to the length of journey coaches make, they often
provide toilets, DVD players, air conditioning and in some cases wireless Internet access. Coaches typi-
cally have cavernous luggage compartments beneath the passenger area. Coaches are often equipped with
larger, comfortable plush seats, while buses have more standard two- and three-seat bench-style seats.
Buses rarely have extra storage room or amenities. Due to the comfort and ease of travel offered by
coaches, they are more expensive than buses. Buses may charge a ride fee each time you get on or leave
the bus, while coach tickets may be a one-time cost for an extended journey, bought in advance and pre-
sented before you board.

Manufacturers
Types of coaches include the Greyhound Motor Coach, which provides passenger travel across the United
States, Canada and Mexico; and the double-decker Neoplans coaches of England, which travel between
Oxford and London. Bus companies include Blue Bird, which manufactures school and activity buses,
and SEPTA buses, the transit bus of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Air transport
+

Rail passenger transport

Water transport
3.2 ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT
Road freight transport is the second major branch of road motor transport, the first one
being the road passenger transport.

Freight Characteristics

Goods have more differentiated characteristics than passengers. It is important to know

goods characteristics because they determine the kind of carrying units to carry them and
the manner in which they must be handled.

i. Some goods are solids, some are liquids, some are gaseous and some are
somewhere in between these.
ii. Some are bulky and cheap while others a light and valuable.
iii. Some are highly perishable and yet others are durable
iv. Some are dangerous while others a safe.
v. Some are live while others are non-living
vi. Some are fragile, others are not
vii. Some have good loadabilities while others have poor loadabilities

a) The Carrying Units

In principle there are supposed to be as many types of carrying units as there are types of
goods to carry, e.g;

i. Covered body lorries – for weather sensitive goods and valuables

ii. Open body lorries – for cheap goods that are not sensitive to weather,
iii. Low open bodies-for containers
iv. Tankers.

The list can be extended indefinitely alongside the requirement of each traffic
characteristics;

b) The Way:
 The way for the road freight transportation is almost the same as that for passenger
transportation. However lorries seem to have their own end of the road that cannot
be applied by the buses. These are the semi made or unpaved roads that penetrate
into remote villages, farms, mines or game reserves. On the other hand lorries ply
all roads that connect urban centres, or roads converging deep into city centres to
supplying urban population with food stuffs and other materials from the rural areas.

c) The Terminal:

An ideal full-fledged freight terminal is expected to be properly located and equipped.

Location
i It must be within or close to an industrial area.
ii It must be alongside or near a paved road for easy road network
connections
iii It must be within a secure zone against theft and natural hazards like
floods.
iv It must be away from residential areas.
Provisions/Facilities
A fully fledged truck terminal is expected to have:

i Transit sheds and warehouses to facilitate proper planning and leisure haulages of
goods,
ii An equipped workshop to provide services and maintenance of trucks,
iii Booking offices to communicate with shippers.
iv Canteen for truck crew, workshop and other staff.
v Truck loading and unloading equipment
vi Parking yard to accommodate waiting trucks
vii Fueling and washing points
viiiOvernight facilities for early departure or late arriving truck crew
ix A large paved yard to allow truck to turn round. etc.
Security Unit
A dedicated security (dedicated staff) must be established to provide security both to vehicles
and freight within the terminal yard and warehouses or transit sheds

d) The Motive Power

There is no remarkable peculiarity in the motive power for freight transportation. However de-
tachable power units to serve more than one semi trailers may prove more efficient and effective
for short distance haulages whereby such a unit may be detached from an arriving truck, leave
the trailer behind for loading or unloading and go out with another trailer.

Bulky goods
a. Such as coal, grains, oil, or chemicals that are not packaged in any type of container
and are stored, transported, and sold in large quantities: We sell silos for the storage
of bulk goods such as sugar, grain, and fertilizer.
b. Things that are bought in large quantities, so that each separate one has a cheaper
price: The store is famous for its low prices on bulk goods.

Dangerous goods

Dangerous goods are solids, liquids, or gases that can harm people, other living organisms,
property, or the environment. They are often subject to chemical regulations. In the United States
and sometimes in Canada dangerous goods are more commonly known as hazardous materials,
(abbreviated as HAZMAT or HazMat). "HazMat teams" are personnel specially trained to
handle dangerous goods. Dangerous goods include materials that are radioactive, flammable,
explosive, corrosive, oxidizing, asphyxiating, biohazardous, toxic, pathogenic, or allergenic.
Also included are physical conditions such as compressed gases and liquids or hot materials,
including all goods containing such materials or chemicals, or may have other characteristics that
render them hazardous in specific circumstances.

In the United States, dangerous goods are often indicated by diamond-shaped signage on the
item (see NFPA 704), its container, and/or the building where it is stored. The colours of each
diamond in a way has reference to its hazard i.e.: Flammable = red because fire and heat are
generally of red colour, Explosive = orange, because mixing red (flammable) with yellow
(oxidising agent) creates orange. Non-flammable Non-toxic Gas = green, due to all compressed
air vessels being in this colour. In France, after World War II, is where the diamond system of
HazMat identification originated.

SIGNS
Signs are any kind of visual graphics created to display information to a particular audience. This
is typically manifested in the form of way finding information in signs or a system of signs used
to show information about something (such as a business or a road)
1. Signs considered as a group.
2. The design or use of signs and symbols.
3. Signs collectively, esp. street signs or signs giving directions

4. Signs, as used for display, advertising, etc.

SIGNAGE

Signs for identification, warning, or direction or a system of such signs.

Signage is any kind of visual graphics created to display information to a particular audience.
Signage is graphic designs: symbols, emblems, or words, used especially for identification or as
a means of giving directions or warning.

Road signage at bus terminals

Bus Stop Sign on post pole - traffic road sign Parking place sign on post pole - traffic road sign

School children Crossing Roadside Warning Sign

THE END