TRAVELING WITH STYLE: A GUIDE OF MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

Have you ever thought about how many countries each piece of a product has traveled through to reach you?  From the raw material to generate the screw that makes your phone invisible to the packaging of its box, they have gone through a logistical process and an endless number of destinations.

That's how big and important logistics is today. Transportation is an essential link in any supply chain; costs, times and risks must be adjusted to the needs of the product and the customer.

There are several modes of transportation, the best mode of transportation will always be a subjective perspective, since it depends on the goods to be transported and the customer's needs the mode of transportation to be chosen: land, air, sea, rail, pipeline or intermodal.  

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Land transport

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What makes this transport unique is its flexibility, as it can reach any destination for delivery directly to the consignee, even rural areas where other modes of transport do not have access.

It is usually used in short and medium distances, since its cost is more economical. The goods can be tracked and monitored throughout the journey, which facilitates management.

Another of its advantages is its low dependence on weather conditions, although the weather may affect or increase the risk of the operation, it is less susceptible to weather conditions compared to other modes.

Despite its great advantages, ground transportation may not always be the best option to transport your goods. Transport time is much slower compared to air, and you cannot have an exact certainty on the transfer time, as trucks are subject to traffic congestion.

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Air transport

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Classified as the most expensive transport, air transport stands out for its speed, especially over long distances, and is therefore used for urgent deliveries.

Its global access allows it to send and receive goods from any continent. It is considered one of the safest modes of transportation, so most of the valuable goods are moved by air.

Its disadvantages include:
- High cost
- Cargo limitations that restrict the type of goods to be transported
- High dependence on weather conditions that may cause flight delays or cancellations
- Environmental impact. Air transport has a higher carbon footprint compared to other modes of transportation

Some of the products most frequently transported by air are luxury or valuable goods, medicines and pharmaceuticals, electronics and technology, among others.

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Maritime transportation

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Did you know that worldwide, approximately 80% of international trade goods are transported by sea? Maritime transportation stands out for its low cost and large cargo volumes.

In terms of environmental impact, it does generate pollution, however it is less harmful per unit of cargo transported compared to air transport in terms of CO2 emissions.

The wide variety of cargo is one of the reasons why it is the ideal mode of transport for certain goods, as a wide range of products can be transported, from general containers to bulk goods, liquid products and special cargoes.

In terms of disadvantages, its main limitation is the transport time. It is much slower than the previously discussed means, so it is not usually used for urgent deliveries. Although the goods are well insured, storms or maritime accidents may cause the risk of loss of the goods.

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Rail transport

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Railways have started to become relevant again, especially with the return of the passenger train. Its high load capacity for heavy and bulky goods makes it an excellent choice as a mode of transport.

Its cost is usually very competitive and low over long distances, especially with large volumes of cargo. Its safety makes it a favorite of some, as rail accidents are less frequent.

Due to the low congestion or traffic on the railroads, it allows for greater regularity and punctuality in transportation.

Among its main disadvantages are its dependence on infrastructure, it requires railways to operate, which limits accessibility and flexibility in certain areas. It is mostly combined with other modes of transportation such as land transportation.

Pipeline transportation

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This mode of transportation is not an option for most companies, as most pipelines are used solely by their owners.

Because the pipeline is buried underground, weather conditions do not impact your transportation plans. The goods transported are relatively unique: liquids and gaseous goods such as oil, natural gas, chemicals, etc.

Shipping your products is more expensive than ocean transport, but cheaper than rail transport. Like their construction cost, pipelines are approximately 60% cheaper to build compared to rail infrastructure.

As for its disadvantages, we find that this mode of transportation pertains only to special cargo and is not provided for use by other carriers.

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Multimodal and intermodal transport

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The difference is that multimodal transport combines two or more modes of transport under the same contract, and intermodal transport combines two or more modes of transport, but each segment of the trip is made under separate contracts and different operators for each mode of transport.

It is used by most companies because, as mentioned above, certain modes of transport do not have the flexibility or access to certain corners of the world and need the support of land transport to reach the destination.

And do you already know all the modes of transport in logistics? Which one do you use most frequently in your supply chain?

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