Transport Modes: Road Transport

Road transport

Advantages

• Is fast over short distances.
• Is cheap over short distances.
• It is direct and offers door to door delivery services
• there is a wide network of roads already available meaning
• even remote areas can be accessed by this form of transport
• and vehicles can be re-routed when this is needed.
• Operates on flexible:
• Timetables hence goods can be carried any time
• Routes since vehicles can travel anywhere.
• There is minimum handling of goods thus reducing risks of theft of and damage to the goods.
• It is suitable to carry:
• perishable goods such as flowers
• Fragile products such as glass
• Loads of different shapes and sizes.
• There is no transhipment of goods i.e. goods need not be unloaded and loaded again.
• Is possible to organise return loads.
• Can carry advertisements on the sides of the vans.
• May use special trucks and trailers.
• Vehicles can be owned by people and individuals.
• Vehicles and roads have a low maintenance cost.

Disadvantages

• Is slow over long distances.
• Is relatively expensive over long distances.
• Is not suitable for carrying heavy goods and bulky loads.
• Can be affected by:
• Poor weather conditions e.g. thunderstorms.

To access more topics go to the Commerce Notes page.