ADV. & Disadv.

Of Transport System

Road transport
Road transport is a very popular mode of transport used by suppliers and
businesses to deliver orders. Many transport companies provide scheduled delivery
days and next day delivery services, depending upon your needs. Goods can be
packed/grouped in containers which are also used for sea transportation.

Advantages

 Cost effective 
 Fast delivery 

 Ideal for short distances, national or mainland to landlocked
 and neighbouring countries 
  Ideal for transporting perishables (eg fruit and vegetables) 
 Easy to monitor location of goods 
 Easy to communicate with driver 
 Ideal for sending by courier shortages to customers 

Disadvantages

  Transport subject to traffic delays 

 Transport subject to breakdown 
 Goods susceptible to damage through careless driving 
 Bad weather 
 Driving regulations can cause delays 

Sea transport
Sea transportation is used by businesses for the delivery of goods from distant
suppliers. Most sea transportation is conducted in containers which vary in size.
Goods can be grouped into a container (LCL) or fill a container (FCL). Sea
tankers are used for bulk shipments of loose goods such as oil, grain and coal.
Advantages
  Ideal for transporting heavy and bulky goods 
 Suitable for products with long lead times 

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 ADV. & Disadv. Of Transport System
Disadvantages

 Longer lead/delivery times 

 Bad weather 
 Difficult to monitor exact location of goods in transit 
 Customs and Excise restrictions 
 Could be costly 

air transport
Advantages

The following are some of the advantages of air transport:

I. High Speed:

Air transport is the fastest mode of transport and therefore suitable carriage
of goods over a long distance requiring less time. There is no substitute for
air transport when the transport of goods is required urgently.

II. Quick Service:

Air transport provides comfortable, efficient and quick transport service. It is

regarded as best mode of transport for transporting perishable goods.

III. No Infrastructure Investment:

Air transport does not give emphasis on construction of tracks like railways.
As no capital investment in surface track is needed, it is a less costly mode
of transport.

IV. Easy Access:

Air transport is regarded as the only means of transport in those areas which
are not easily accessible to other modes of transport. It is therefore
accessible to all areas regardless the obstruction of land.

V. No Physical Barrier:
Air transport is free from physical barriers because it follows the shortest
and direct routes where seas, mountains and forests do not obstruct.
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VI. Natural Route:

Aircrafts travels to any place without any natural obstacles or barriers.

Because the custom formalities are compiled very quickly. It avoids delay in
obtaining clearance.

VII. National Defence:

It plays a significant role in the national defense of the country because

modern wars are conducted with the help of aero planes. Airways has a
upper hand a destroying the enemy in a short period.

Disadvantages

Despite many advantages air transport has a number of disadvantages. These

disadvantages are:

I. Risky:

Air transport is the most risky form of transport because a minor accident
may put a substantial loss to the goods, passengers and the crew. The
chances of accidents are greater in comparison to other modes of transport.

II. Very Costly:

Air transport is regarded as the costliest mode of transport. The operating

cost of aero-planes are higher and it involves a great deal of expenditure on
the construction of aerodromes and aircraft. Because of this reason the fare
of air transport are so high that it becomes beyond the reach the common
people.

III. Small Carrying Capacity:

The aircrafts have small carrying capacity and therefore these are not
suitable for carrying bulky and cheaper goods. the load capacity cannot be
increased as it is found in case of rails.

IV. Unreliable:
Most of the air transport are uncertain and the unreliable because these are

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controlled by weather condition. It is seriously affected by adverse weather
conditions. Fog, snow and heavy rain weather may cause cancellation of
some flights.

V. Huge Investment:

Air transport requires huge investment for construction and maintenance of

aerodromes. It also requires trained, experienced and skilled personnel
which involves a substantial investment.

Rail transport
Railway transport occupies a significant role in the transport system of a
country because the development of trade, industry and commerce of a
country largely depends on the development of railways.

Advantages:

i. It facilitates long distance travel and transport of bulky goods which

are not easily transported through motor vehicles.

ii. It is a quick and more regular form of transport because it

helps in the transportation of goods with speed and certainty.

iii. It helps in the industrialization process of a country by easy

transportation of coal and raw-materials at a cheaper rate.

iv. It helps in the quick movement of goods from one place to another at
the time of emergencies like famines and scarcity.

v. It encourages mobility of labour ad thereby provides a great

scope for employment.

vi. 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 protected from the exposure to sun,
rain snow etc.

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

viii. It is the largest public undertaking in the country. Railways perform

many public utility services. Their charges are based on charge what the
traffic can bear principles which helps the poor. In fact, it is a national
necessity.
Disadvantages:
i. The railway requires a large investment of capital. The cost of
construction, maintenance and overhead expenses are very high as
compared to other modes of transport. Moreover, the investments are
specific and immobile. In case the traffic is not sufficient, the investments
may mean wastage of huge resources.

ii. Another disadvantage of railway transport is its inflexibility. It

routes and timings cannot be adjusted to individual requirements.

iii. Rail transport cannot provide door to door service as it is tied to a

particular track. Intermediate loading or unloading involves greater cost,
more wear and tear and wastage of time. The time cost of terminal
operations are a great disadvantage of rail transport.

iv. As railways require huge capital outlay, they may give rise to
monopolies and work against public interest at large. Even if controlled
and managed by the government, lack of competition may breed in
inefficiency and high costs.

v. Railway transport is unsuitable and uneconomical for short distances

and small traffic of goods.

vi. It involves much time and labour in booking and taking delivery of
goods through railways as compared to motor transport.

vii. Because of huge capital requirements and traffic, railways cannot be

operated economically in rural areas. Thus, large rural areas have no
railway even today. This causes much inconvenience to the people living
in rural areas.

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