Transportation JSS3 Business Studies Lesson Note

TOPIC: TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is a means by which raw materials, finished goods, and people are moved from one place to another.

IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION IN COMMERCE

i.                     Transportation helps to widen the market

ii.                   It encourages international trade

iii.                 It prevents the wastage of perishable goods

iv.                 It helps to provide job opportunities

v.                   It facilitates and quickens the effective distribution of goods

vi.                 It influences the location of the industry

TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION

i.                     Transport by land

ii.                   Transport by air

iii.                 Transport by water

iv.                 Transport by pipeline

1. TRASPORT BY LAND – this is the movement of people and goods from one place to another either by road or railway. Transportation by land is divided into two:

a. Transport by road – means carrying of goods and people from one place to another on road e.g motor vehicles. Trailers, buses, carts, bicycles, etc.

Advantages of Road transport

i.                     It is flexible because it provides door-to-door services

ii.                   It can reach all parts of the country

iii.                 It is easy to load and unload

Disadvantages of Road transport

i.                     Loads carried by road transport are limited

ii.                   There is a high incidence of breakdown and delay

iii.                 It creates congestion and traffic on the highway

b. Rail Transport – it’s a means of carrying heavy goods and passengers from one place to another by train. The train tracks connect several northern, eastern, and western states.

Advantages of Rail Transport

i.                     It is more reliable

ii.                   Its accidents are minimal

iii.                 It is good for transporting heavy goods

2. TRANSPORT BY AIR – a means of carrying goods and passengers from one place to another with the use of planes, jets, and helicopters. It is the fastest means and most comfortable.

Advantages of Air Transport

i.                     It is the fastest

ii.                   It facilitates international trade

iii.                 It is used to carry fragile and perishable goods

iv.                 It can travel long distance

Disadvantages of Air Transport

i.                     It is very expensive

ii.                   Its safety is questionable i.e. high rate of accident

iii.                 It is not suitable for carrying heavy goods.

iv.                 It is not flexible

3. TRANSPORT BY WATER – a means of carrying goods and people from one place to another on the water with the use of speed boats, canoes, and ships.

Advantages of Water Transport

i.                     It is the cheapest

ii.                   It facilitates internal trade

iii.                 It is good for conveying heavy loads e.g. containers

Disadvantages of Water transport

i.                     It is very slow and time-wasting

ii.                   It moves on schedule

iii.                 It is not flexible, it can only move on water

4. TRANSPORT BY PIPELINE – is a means of transporting liquids and gas. Pipelines are built underground and they are used to transport kerosene, petrol, water, etc from one place to another.

Advantages of Pipeline Transport

i.                     The cost of maintenance is low

ii.                   Chances of an accident are limited

iii.                 it reduces the congestion of vehicles on the road

Disadvantages of Pipeline Transport

i.                     it requires a lot of money for construction

ii.                   it may lead to illegal bunkering

iii.                 it may result in spillage which causes environmental pollution

Exercise: (i) What are the products carried by pipeline? (ii) List the modes of transportation