TRANSPORTATION BY LAND Week 5

Transportation
Transportation is the movement of humans, animals and goods from one location to another. It
is the process or means through which goods and passengers are conveyed from one
geographical area to another. It is one of the major facilitators of marketing. Economic activity
will be impossible without transport, and our commercial system will collapse.
Transportation enables trade between people, which is essential for the development of
civilizations and plays an indispensable role in the conduct of business. Transport must be
available to distribute raw materials and finished goods to places where the ultimate consumer
can acquire them. It is the connecting link between the various countries of the world.
The goods being transported are called consignment. The person or firm to whom the goods
are being sent to is called consignee while the sender is consignor.
The importance and roles of transportation in marketing

1. Transportation helps in mass production – it helps to expand old market and create new
ones which increases demand for goods and production.
2. It encourages division of labour and specialization – this allows a firm to concentrate
on the main line of business
3. It helps much in the development of different industries which produce perishable
goods, such as fisheries, dairy, poultry firms etc.
4. Stability – it helps to bring stability to the price of different products by transporting
goods from more supplied places to scarcely supplied areas.
5. It helps to bring products nearer to the consumers.
6. It promotes international trade and relations.
7. It promotes business transactions and negotiation efficiency.
8. Transportation helps in the physical supply of products such as raw materials and
finished goods to the consumers.
9. It encourages effective and efficient distribution of goods from where they are produced
to where they are needed.
10. It creates jobs for people thereby increasing their purchasing power
11. It makes available variety of goods in the market
12. It helps to increase sales
Major modes of Transportation

There are four major modes of transportation namely:
1. Land
2. Water
3. Air
4. Pipeline
Transportation by Land
This is the means of conveying goods and passengers from one place to another through land.
It is good for trade within the country. Land transport can be divided into two namely;
i. Road transport
ii. Rail transport
Road transport
This is the movement of goods and passengers by road through means like motor vehicle,
trucks, cars, bicycles, buses, trailers, lorries etc.
Advantages of road transport
1. It is the cheapest form of transportation
2. Convenience – it offers door to door services from manufacturer to consumer
3. Flexibility – there is high degree of flexibility since there is no fixed time schedule
4. Faster on short journey – it is suitable for short distance trips
5. Low maintenance cost – the cost of maintaining motor vehicle is low
6. Availability – the means of transportation by road are always readily available for use
Disadvantages of road transport
1. It is not suitable for heavy and bulky goods like machinery, coal.
2. Slow on long distance – it is slow when long distance is involved
3. Welfare facilities are not provided – facilities such as toilet, canteen etc. are not usually
provided in road transport as provided in train, air and water transport.
4. Prone to accident – road transport is too prone to accident than other means of
transportation.
5. Not suitable for fragile goods like glass plates, mirrors etc.
Reasons why road is preferred to rail OR advantages of Road transport over rail
1. Road transport is flexible – it does not necessarily depend on time schedule as rail
2. Maintenance cost for road transport is lower than rail
3. Road transport is suitable for short distance trips than rail
4. Individual firms can obtain their own vehicles and use them but it is not the case with
train
5. It offers door to door services than rail
Rail transport
This is the means of conveying goods and services from one place to another by train. Heavy
and bulky goods are carried by train. Rails are laid to connect different parts of the country.
Train moves on iron tracks known as rail way lines. There are two types of rail/train namely;
a. Passenger train – This is used in carrying only passengers from one place to another.
The level of comfort provided is dependent on the fares paid since it has 1st, 2nd and 3rd
class compartments
b. Goods train – This train is mainly for carrying heavy goods within the country. It links
and connects business people together across the entire country.
Factors affecting rail way charges

i. The value of the goods
ii. Weight of the goods
iii. Quantity of the goods
iv. Risk of damage
v. Handling expenses
vi. Distance and nature of the goods.
Reasons why rail is preferred to road transport

i. Rail is good on long distance
ii. Services like canteen, toilet facilities, fire extinguishers etc. are provided
iii. Accident is not common unlike road transport
iv. It is god for carrying bulky goods
v. Standard rates are charged.
ASSIGNMENT 2
Discuss four disadvantages of rail transportation

TRANSPORTATION BY LAND Week 5

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TRANSPORTATION BY LAND Week 5

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Transportation

The importance and roles of transportation in marketing

Major modes of Transportation

Factors affecting rail way charges

Reasons why rail is preferred to road transport

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