Chapter 8:

The Transportation System

Learning Objectives-After reading this

chapter, you should be able to do the following:


 

Explain the economic role transportation plays in the economy. Discuss the economic and service characteristics of the basic modes. Describe the carrier selection process. Discuss the economic effect of rates, transit time, reliability, capability, accessibility, and security in the carrier selection decision.
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Learning Objectives


Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using common, regulated, contract, exempt and private carriers --- the five legal classes of carriers. Discuss the economic and service characteristics of intermodal transportation and explain the dominance of rail-truck (piggyback) intermodal service.

Learning Objectives


Discuss the economic rationale of using containerization. Discuss the economic and service characteristics of indirect and special carriers.

Logistics Profile: Victoria s Secret



33 to 35 percent of the $2.9 billion store, catalog, and E-commerce sales ship via the United States Postal Service (USPS). Victoria s Secret uses Global Logistics, a package expeditor, to service its southeast USPS shipments, with the object of three to five day service. All loads to the USPS are palletized and are standing appointments and live uploads.
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The Role of Transportation in Logistics



Transportation is the physical link connecting the firm to its suppliers and customers. In a nodes and links scenario, transportation is the link between fixed facilities (nodes). Transportation also adds value to the product by providing time and place utility for the firm s goods.

The Role of Transportation in Logistics



As firms engage in global competition, transportation costs are becoming even more significant. In 1999, U.S. firms spent an estimated $554 billion to move freight, or 9.9% of the GNP1; this is up from 397 billion, or 6.3% of the GDP in 1993.

The Role of Transportation in Logistics



In 1999, as a percentage of sales, transportation was 3.24%, warehousing 1.84%, customer service 0.48%, administration 0.38%, and carrying cost 1.52%. Outbound transportation was clearly the largest component of total physical distribution costs. Cost trade-offs abound in transportation and are typified by trading lower inventory costs for higher transportation costs.

The Transport Selection Decision



The Transportation Supply Chain Relationship  Firms need to recognize that the lowest cost carrier does not necessarily guarantee that this carrier will result in the lowest landed cost.  Therefore, firms need to keep the big picture in mind when attempting to select a carrier.
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The Transport Selection Decision



The Carrier Selection Decision:  Various modes of transportation should be considered.  Choose a carrier or carriers within the selected mode, if there is a choice.  Carefully examine the service capabilities of the carrier as services can vary widely between carriers.
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Figure 8-1 The Carrier Selection Decision

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The Transport Selection Decision



Carrier Selection Determinants:  Cost  Transit time and reliability  Can be a competitive advantage  Lowers customers inventory costs  Capability  Accessibility  Security
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Figure 8-2 Carrier Selection Determinants and User Implications

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The Transport Selection Decision



The Pragmatics of Carrier Selection:  Transit time reliability  Negotiated rates  Consolidating shipments among a few carriers  Financial stability  Sales rep  Special equipment
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Figure 8-3 Importance Ranking of Carrier Selection Determinants

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The Basic Modes of Transportation3



The basic modes available to the logistics manager are rail, motor, water, pipeline, and air. Distribution of ton-miles* for the various modes is outlined in Table 8-1.

*(a ton-mile is one ton of cargo carried one mile, and is a standard statistical measurement used in the transportation industry).
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Table 8-1 Modal Distribution of Ton-Miles

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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Railroads



Capable of carrying a wide variety of products, much more so that other modes. Very small number of carriers; likely only one will be able to serve any one customer location. Trend is to merge smaller companies into larger ones with ultimate goal of having perhaps two transcontinental rail carriers.
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Railroads



 

This would permit seamless dock-to-dock service by one company; a distinct improvement over current systems. Rail is a long haul, large volume system (high fixed costs; own rights-of-way). Accessibility can be a problem. Transit times are spotty, but are generally long.
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Railroads



 

Reliability and safety are improving and are generally good. Premium intermodal services  Straight piggyback and containerized freight  Double stacks  RoadRailer service Unit train service Intermodal Marketing Company (IMC)
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On the Line: It s the Service, Stupid



It s difficult to assess the railroad industry without getting into the subject of service Shippers complain; rail carriers say they are trying to improve. Wall Street says that improving service is imperative. Actual improvements are coming, but slower than the demand for faster, more reliable, and cheaper service. One problem is that standards continue to increase.
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Motor Carriers



The motor carrier industry is characterized by a large number of small firms. In 1999, there were 505,000 registered motor carriers. Low cost of entry causes these large numbers. Used by almost all logistics systems and account for 82 percent of U.S. freight expenditures. Consists of for-hire and private carriers.
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Figure 8-4 Overview of Interstate Motor Carrier Industry

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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Motor Carriers



 

Large number of small firms; in 1999, there were 12,500 regulated carriers, only 7% of which had revenues >$10 million, with 76% having revenues <$3 million. Characterized by low fixed costs and high variable costs. Do not own their rights-of-way. Limited operating authority regarding service areas, routes, rates and products carried.
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Motor Carriers

 

High accessibility Transit times faster than rail or water. Reliability can be affected greatly by weather. Small vehicle size coincides with lower inventory strategies and quick replenishment (QR). Relatively high cost compared to rail and water; trade-off is faster service.
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Figure 8-5 Overview of the Domestic Water Carrier Industry

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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Domestic Water Carriers



Available along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts, along the Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Ohio River systems and the Great Lakes. Regulated common and contract carriers haul about 5% of the freight, while private and exempt carriers haul the other 95% of the ton-miles.
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Domestic Water Carriers



Relatively low cost mode; do not own the rights-ofway; easy entry and exit. Typically a long distance mover of low value, bulktype mineral, agricultural and forest products Low rates but long transit times Low accessibility but high capability
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: International Water Carriers



General cargo ships  Large high capacity cargo holds  Engaged on a contract basis  Many have self-contained cranes for loading/unloading Bulk carriers  Specially designed to haul minerals  Can handle multiple cargoes
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: International Water Carriers



Tankers  Specially designed for liquid cargoes  Largest vessels afloat, some VLCCs at 500k+ tons Container ships  High speeds for ships; increasingly more common and important  Larger vessels can handle up to 5,000 containers.
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: International Water Carriers



RO-RO (Roll on-Roll off)  Basically a large ferry that facilitates the loading and unloading process by using drive on/off ramps  May also have the capacity to haul containers Other  OBO multipurpose carriers  Barges (not transoceanic)
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Air Carriers



Limited number of large carriers earn about 90% of the revenue.

Any of the air carriers can carry air freight although some haul nothing but freight. Cost structure is highly variable; do not own rightsof-way. Transit times are fastest of the modes, but rates are highest.
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Air Carriers



Average revenue per ton mile 18 times higher than rail; twice that of motor carriers. Seek goods with a high value to weight ratio. Accessibility is low as is capability. Reliability subject to weather more than other modes.

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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Pipelines



Refers only to the oil pipelines, not natural gas Not suitable for general transportation Some research has been performed to move minerals in a liquid medium, but outside of a few attempts to transport slurried-coal via pipeline, no real successes have occurred.
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The Basic Modes of Transportation: Pipelines

 

Accessibility is very low. Cost structure is highly fixed with low variable costs. Own rights-of-way much like the railroads. Major advantage is low rates.
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Table 8-2: Performance Rating of Modes

Selection Determinants Railroad Cost 3 Transit time Reliability Capability Accessibility Security 3 2 1 2 3 Motor 4 2 1 2 1 2 Modes Water 2 4 4 4 4 4 Air 5 1 3 3 3 1 Pipeline 1 ----5 ----36

Legal Classifications of Carriers: Common Carrier



 

For-hire carrier that serves the general public at reasonable rates and without discrimination. Stringent economic regulation designed to protect the public. Must transport all commodities offered... Commodities are limited to those that the carrier s equipment will handle.

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Legal Classifications of Carriers: Common Carrier



Carrier is liable for damages to products carried. Exceptions to liability include acts of God, acts of the public enemy, acts of public authority, acts of the shipper and defects inherent in the goods. Continued service is assisted by ceiling and floor limits on the rates charged. Backbone of the transportation industry.
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Legal Classifications of Carriers: Regulated Carrier



Regulated carriers are found in motor and water carriage. The ICC Termination Act of 1995 eliminated most of the common carrier economic regulation for these two modes, including entry controls, reasonable rates, and nondiscrimination provisions. When acting as a contract carrier, not subject to STB economic regulations. Must provide safe and adequate service.
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Legal Classifications of Carriers: Contract Carriers



 

For-hire carrier that does not have to serve the general public. May serve one or a few shippers exclusively. May offer specialized equipment. Not subject to regulation on services; rates usually lower than common or regulated carriers.
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Legal Classifications of Carriers: Contract Carriers



Other aspects of the carrier/shipper relationship are made a part of the contract between the two parties. Becoming more popular as logistics managers use contract carriage to assure rates and service levels.

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Legal Classifications of Carriers: Exempt Carriers



 

For-hire carrier exempt from economic regulation regarding rates and services. Limited entry controls; low rates. Usually haul agricultural products, but there are special rules as to what may be hauled by each mode of transportation, e.g., rail piggyback is exempt.. Limited number of carriers restricts availability.
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Legal Classifications of Carriers: Private Carriers



Private carriage is the firm s own transportation. Not for-hire and not subject to Federal regulations. May not be the firm s primary business but can charge a intracompany fee for transportation services. Almost exclusively motor, but some rail, air and water also exist.
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Legal Classifications of Carriers: Private Carriers



 

Firms gain ultimate control over shipments and achieve maximum flexibility in moving goods. Backhauls are usually empty or return materials to the firm s plants and/or warehouses. Requires a large capital investment. Requires management time and expertise.
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Intermodal Transportation


Refers to use of two or more modes of transportation cooperating on the movement of shipment by publishing a through rate. Logistics managers are looking for the best way to move shipments and these often attempt to take advantage of multiple modes of transportation, each of which has certain useful characteristics.
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Figure 8-6 Types of Intermodal Services

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Intermodal Transportation


Biggest disadvantage is that carriers are reluctant to participate. Cultural bias towards using only one mode and this makes change more difficult. Certain types have been fairly well developed, such as rail/water, motor/water, rail/motor, and motor/air.
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Intermodal Transportation: Containerization



Referred to as Container-on-Flat-Car (COFC); goods are placed in a large box, where they are untouched until they arrive at the consigee s unloading dock. Reduces theft, damage, multiple handling costs and intermodal transfer time. Changes materials handling from labor intensive to capital intensive and may reduce costs from 10 to 20%.
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Intermodal Transportation: Containerization



Land bridge concept may apply for international shipments where oceans are separated by a large land mass. For example, containers moving from Japan to Europe may dock at Long Beach, CA, transfer the containers to a railroad, and reload the containers onboard another ship in Norfolk, VA., continuing on to a European port.
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Intermodal Transportation: Piggyback

 

 

Trailer-on-Flat-Car (TOFC) Over the road trailers ride in special rail cars. Takes advantage of motor flexibility and rail s long haul economic advantage. Multiple service plans for shippers. Some railroads provide varying levels of service, differentially priced.

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Intermodal Transportation: RoadRailers

 

 

Newest concept referred to as a RoadRailer Essentially a trailer that has been reinforced to ride on a rail bogey and be coupled together directly without first being placed on a rail flat car Saves weight and locomotive power and thus fuel for the railroad Special lower rates Motor competitive transit times
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Indirect and Special Carriers



Small-Package Carriers  Evolved to carry small, irregular shipments  Fast service, premium rates  examples are UPS, FedEx, RPS, etc. Consolidators and Freight Forwarders  Consolidates many small shipments  Saves shippers by using CL or TL rates
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Indirect and Special Carriers



Shippers Associations  Acts as a consolidator for members  Object is also to get lower rates Brokers  Acts as an intermediary  May be licensed by STB  Often used to provide backhauls for private carriers
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Indirect and Special Carriers



Intermodal Marketing Companies (IMC)



An intermediary that solicits shipments for rail/motor intermodal service. Can speed traffic through consolidation (fills the normal two-trailer load on an intermodal flat car, avoiding delays waiting for another trailer going to the same destination). Particularly advantageous for small (one trailer) shippers.
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Chapter 8: Summary and Review Questions

Students should review their knowledge of the chapter by checking out the Summary and Study Questions for Chapter 8.

End of Chapter 8 Slides

The Transportation System