Modes of Transportation – SS2 Marketing Lesson Note (First Term)

Transportation is the movement of goods and people from one place to another.

• Four modes: land (road and rail), water, air and pipeline.
• Choice of mode: each mode has its own uses, advantages and disadvantages, which decide the goods or passengers it suits best.

Behavioural objectives

1. Identify the major modes of transportation.
2. Distinguish between road and rail transport, and between inland and international water transport.
3. Name the types of inland and international water transport.
4. State the advantages and disadvantages of road, rail, water, air and pipeline transport.

What are the major modes of transportation?

There are four major modes of transportation: land, water, air and pipeline.

1. Land transportation: movement by road or by rail.
2. Water transportation: movement by canoes, boats and ships.
3. Air transportation: movement by aeroplanes.
4. Pipeline transportation: movement of liquids and gas through pipes.

What is land transportation?

Land transportation is the movement of goods and people (passengers) from one place to another by road or by rail.

• Road transportation: movement on roads by vehicles.
• Rail transportation: movement on railway tracks by trains.
• Use: most countries rely on land transport for trade within the country.

What is road transportation?

Road transportation is the movement of goods and passengers on roads by motor vehicles, lorries, motorcycles and similar means.

• Extent of use: it is the most widely used of all the modes of transportation.

What are the advantages of road transport?

• Low maintenance cost: maintaining motor vehicles costs less than maintaining ships or aeroplanes.
• Fast on short journeys: road transport saves time over short distances.
• Flexibility: a vehicle can be found at almost any time because there is no fixed schedule.
• Door-to-door service: goods and passengers can be collected and delivered at the exact place.

What are the disadvantages of road transport?

• Accidents: road accidents are common and often cause loss of lives and goods.
• Limited load: vehicles carry less than ships or trains, so road is costly for very bulky goods over long distances.
• Congestion: traffic jams cause delays, especially in big cities.
• Bad roads: poor road conditions damage vehicles and goods.

What is rail transportation?

Rail transportation is the movement of goods and passengers on railway tracks by trains.

What are the advantages of rail transport?

• Heavy loads: a train carries bulky goods and many passengers at one time.
• Cost: it is cheaper than road for bulky goods over long distances on land.
• Little traffic delay: trains run on their own tracks, so road congestion does not affect them.

What are the disadvantages of rail transport?

• High cost of operation: the purchase, construction and maintenance of rail transport are capital intensive.
• Not suitable for perishable goods: rail transport is slow, so perishable goods may spoil.
• Not convenient: door-to-door delivery is possible by road but not by rail.
• Much delay: trains stop at almost all terminals, which delays passengers.

What is the difference between road and rail transport?

Road transport uses motor vehicles on roads, while rail transport uses trains on fixed tracks.

What is water transportation?

Water transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another through water.

• Role in trade: it moves goods, especially bulky and heavy ones, from one country to another.
• Two divisions: inland water transport and international water transport.

What is the difference between inland and international water transport?

• Inland (national or internal) water transport: movement of passengers and goods within a country, on rivers and creeks.
• International water transport: movement of goods and passengers across national boundaries. It links countries and supports foreign trade.

What are the types of inland water transport?

There are four types of inland water transport: canoes, engine boats, launchers and ferry boats.

• Canoes: the commonest and oldest means of transport in creek areas, propelled by human effort. They carry goods and passengers, and are used for fishing and hawking.
• Engine boats: improved canoes that are propelled by an engine. They carry passengers and goods.
• Launchers: improved, more comfortable passenger boats. They carry passengers within a town or from one town to another.
• Ferry boats: boats that carry passengers and goods across a river, especially where there is no bridge.

What are the types of international water transport?

There are three types of ships for international water transport: ocean liners, coastal liners (steamers) and tramp liners.

Ocean liners

Ocean liners are ships that travel on the oceans and seas, and they are of two kinds: passenger liners and cargo liners.

• Passenger liners: luxurious ships that carry many passengers on the high seas. They keep to definite routes and schedules, whether full or not. They also carry mail and less bulky cargo.
• Cargo liners: ships that carry bulky cargo along high seas and oceans. They run on schedule and on specific routes. They carry few passengers, in less luxurious rooms.

Coastal liners or steamers

Coastal liners are ships that collect cargo from firms along the coast and forward it to the main ports.

• Examples: lighters and tugs.
• Flat bottoms: this lets them sail through rivers and creeks.
• Coast: the land next to the sea.

Tramp liners

Tramp liners are ships that carry goods wherever the goods are found.

• No fixed route: they do not run on schedule, so they are called the cargo taxicabs of water transport.
• Size: they are smaller than ocean liners.

What are the advantages of water transport?

• Links countries: it reaches places that land transport cannot reach.
• Bulky goods: it is the most suitable mode for heavy and bulky goods.
• Low cost: it is cheaper than air transport over long distances.
• International trade: it makes trade between countries possible.
• Safe packing: cargo is carefully packed in ships.
• Regular service: some ships run on fixed routes and schedules.
• Fewer accidents: accidents are less common than on the road.
• Comfort: passenger ocean liners offer swimming pools, cinemas and theatres.
• Perishable goods: specially built vessels keep them in good condition.
• Free routes: nature provides the routes, so they cost nothing to build.

What are the disadvantages of water transport?

• High cost of ships: a ship is very expensive to buy.
• Dangers: storms at sea can sink ships and destroy cargo.
• Limited reach: it is not available in every part of a country.
• Slow: it takes longer than air transport.
• Seaports: building a seaport costs a great deal.
• Handling: loading and unloading ships is difficult.

What is air transportation?

Air transportation is the movement of passengers and goods through the air by aeroplanes.

• Coverage: it serves routes within a country and between countries.

What are the advantages of air transport?

• Speed: it is the fastest mode of transport.
• Long distances: it suits long journeys, especially from one country to another.
• Perishable goods: it is the most suitable mode for goods that spoil quickly.
• Easy clearing: goods are often cleared at airports with fewer customs formalities than at seaports.
• Fewer accidents: accidents are rare compared with road transport.
• Free routes: it costs nothing to provide air routes.
• No congestion: hold-ups that cause delay do not occur in the air.
• Military use: aircraft are also used in warfare.

What are the disadvantages of air transport?

• High fares: air fares and freight charges are expensive.
• Bulky goods: it is not suitable for carrying them.
• Costly airports: building and equipping airports is very expensive.
• Not flexible: flights operate on schedule.
• Fatal accidents: accidents are rare, but they are usually fatal when they occur.
• Short journeys: it is not economical over short distances.

What is pipeline transportation?

Pipeline transportation is the movement of liquids and gas, such as crude oil and natural gas, through pipes.

• Other use: pipes also carry water to homes.
• Oil route: pipelines run from the oil fields to the refineries.
• Refined products: pipelines also run from refineries to storage depots.

What are the advantages of pipelines?

• Low maintenance: it needs little maintenance.
• Safe: it is a safe way to move liquids.
• Cheap to run: operating costs are low once the pipes are laid.
• Any terrain: it can be built on any type of land or under the sea.
• Fewer accidents: there is less chance of accidents.
• Less contamination: there is less risk because the product is not handled.

What are the disadvantages of pipelines?

• Land space: it takes up a lot of land.
• Inflexible: it carries only liquids and gas.
• High cost of construction: laying pipelines is very expensive.
• Late discovery of damage: a leak found late can waste a lot of product.
• Danger: a damaged pipeline can sometimes destroy lives and property.
• Accidental damage: drilling during road construction can break it.
• Oil theft: people can tap oil illegally because pipelines are not guarded.

Which mode of transport suits which goods?

Each mode suits certain goods and journeys best.

Evaluation

1. List the four major modes of transportation.
2. Distinguish between inland water transport and international water transport.
3. Differentiate between a passenger liner and a cargo liner.
4. State three advantages of air transport.
5. State three disadvantages of pipeline transport.

Assignment

In your notebook, describe canoes, engine boats and ferry boats, then state three advantages of road transport and three disadvantages of rail transport.