TPT250/FPP/
Chapter 3 –
TPT250
CHARACTERISTICS OF
TRANSPORT
Learning objectives:
At the end of this chapter, learners
would be able to:
1. Explain the modal characteristics
for air transport, road transport, rail
transport, water transport and
pipelines.
2. Explain the traffic characteristics
for goods and passenger.
3. Know the efficient transport and
services characteristics.
2
Characteristics of Transport
Meets the
Transport is demand for
service movement of
traffic
Transport mode Transport
and Traffic service is highly
characteristic perishable
It’s flexibility
related to the
types of way
3
Modal Characteristics
ROAD
Strength Weakness
Door-to-door service: Congestion:
The movement of goods from Due to the high level of flexibility,
where it starts and the arrival of prone to a high congestion level,
goods at the doorstep increasing travelling time and
costs.
Flexible: Severe environment impact:
Operates on almost all road Carbon dioxide emission from
surfaces and land. road vehicles causes air pollution
Comprehensive coverage area: High accident rate:
High accessibility and Due to high flexibility and
connectivity majority of vehicles in operation
Sharing of ways: Heavy expenditure:
Can be shared by various types High construction, maintenance
of land transportation and damage cost to be covered 4
by government.
RAIL
Strength Weakness
Less maintenance: High costs:
Compared to road, the railway tracks Operation include complex signaling,
involved less maintenance. IT, signage, track and terminals.
Right of way: Inflexible:
The exclusivity of the way where the Door-to-door service is unavailable
train operates, also refer to the as trains can only be operated on
railway tracks, solely built for the tracks
train only and cannot be shared with
other modes of transport.
Fewer accidents: Longer journey:
Many countries shows annual Journey is longer than road transport
accident records that involve trains due to its complexity on signaling or
are rare, compared to road vehicle. to other extent where track is being
shared by other trains
Environmentally friendly:
The modern evolution of train in
which utilizes electricity reduces
pollution levels.
5
Carry bulky goods:
SEA
Strength Weakness
Low value: Dependent on weather:
Moves low value and bulky The physical operating
goods environment relies highly on
weather patterns
Less maintenance: Slow speed:
Due to the use of natural Compared to road and air
routes. The only requirement to transport, the speed to
operate is sufficient water. transport traffic is much slower.
Cheapest: Inflexible:
Able to move vast quantities of Ship cannot operated any other
cargo in one ship on one way except through sea.
voyage worldwide
High documentation:
Slow, high and complex
documentation process 6
increases the expected arrival
AIR
Strength Weakness
Speed: Expensive:
Air transport is well-known Costly to transport goods and
for high speed among all passenger via air compared to
transport modes available other modes of transport.
High security: Affected by weather:
The various clearance During plane take off and
checkpoint that goods or landing, as well inclement
passenger go through before weather that may cause
boarding flights disruption or cancellation of
flights.
Carry high-value goods: Limited capacity:
Due to exclusivity and cost, Major flights are bound to
air transport will often carry limited capacity due to size,
high-value goods. hence all loads must be
measured accordingly.
Efficient movement:
Small quantities are
transported. 7
PIPELINE
Strength Weakness
Environmentally friendly: High cost:
Pipelines are easily buried or The construction and
laid under water or land. maintenance costs of
There is less pollution. pipelines can be quite high.
No traffic congestion: Exclusive:
Goods are being moved on a Pipelines can only transport
one-way basis as the volume the same types of goods. A
of goods being carried can be pipeline which is used to
controlled at the point of carry oil cannot be used to
origin before it reaches the carry water even when it is
point of destination. not used to carry oil anymore
High speed: Less flexible:
Pipelines do not share routes Due to the fixed routes, the
with other types of goods due operation is also fixed to the
to a single type of item being availability of the pipeline and
transported the connectivity points.
Automated:
Fewer workers are needed to
operate and control the
pipelines. 8
Traffic Characteristics
Traffic characteristics can be divided into goods and passengers.
• Goods traffic is the movement of material or any type of goods.
• Passenger traffic refers to the movement of people.
Passenger Goods
• All passenger moving from starting point
to the point of consumption using any • The moving of goods by using any mode
mode of transport of choice of transport.
• Load/unload themselves • Unable to load/unload themselves
• Essential journey: • Some goods cannot be mixed with each
other
i. Travel between home and
workplace/school, travel during their • Influence vehicle specialization
course of work. • Many risks are associated with in
ii. Less elastic demand transporting goods include damage in
transit, loss and theft, fire, explosions,
• Non-essential/Optional journey chemical burns and other accidents.
i. Those who are not travelling in connection
of their work.
ii. Personal reasons – leisure, shopping,
social visit
iii. Demand is elastic
9
What Influence Passenger Traffic Characteristics?
Heavy Traffic concentration: Essential:
• Time of the day • Work, school,
Trip
• Weekend or weekday medical
Purpose
• Day and night Non-essential
• Leisure,
shopping
Peak and Passenger
off-peak Traffic Distance
Characteristics
travelling
Private Purpose: Subject Short distance:
• Own expenses to Class • Working, school
• Interest in bargain of travel Long Distance
• Elastic demand • Holiday, visit friend 10
What Influence Goods Traffic Characteristics?
Type of • Solid
goods • Liquid
Special handling • Gaseous
• Fragile
equipment and • Volatile
vehicle. • Perishable
• Livestock
Goods
Traffic
Characteristics
Handling Variety of
equipment shape
Different size
density and weight 11
Cargo, Trade and Ship Characteristic
Cargo Type Trade Characteristics Vessel Size
General Cargo Varied small consignments, numerous Small
Conventional consignees, slow handling rates, various
routes, numerous ports
Unitized (containers) More uniform cargo, rapid handling, many Medium to large
ports
Dry bulk Small to medium consignments, varied Small to medium
Grain handling rates, many restrictive ports
Ores/coal Large consignments, long hauls, moderate Medium to very large
handling rates, specialized terminal, few
ports
Liquid Very large consignments, long hauls, few Very large to ultra large
Crude Oil routes, specialized terminals, few ports
Oil products Small shipments, numerous consignees, Small to medium
many ports
12
Service Characteristics
Service characteristics refer to the elements in the service provision that needs to be fulfilled by all transport operators.
Service Characteristics Description
Punctuality • Refers to the ability of the mode of transport to arrive on time as being stipulated in the
schedule.
• Important to suit transport users plans for departure/arrival
• Departure before time in unpunctual
Affordability • Refers to the cost or charges of the transport provided to the customer.
• Pricing is crucial for every transport operator
Accessibility • Concerned with the complete set of travelling and transport infrastructure
• Could be achieved when a transport providers design a proper way to ease passengers’
movement to reach transport services
Speed • The rate which unit of carriage move along the way
• Travelling too fast or too slow can both cause danger
• Different types of transport posses different types of operating speed.
Safety & security • The highest level of safety ensure highest satisfaction for both passenger and the operator.
• Movement must also avoid damage to third party, properties and community
• Failure to meet the safe arrival and security would simply means that the transport service
has failed to fulfill its roles and functions.
Regularity/frequency • Movements of transport take place art evenly spaced intervals or at a known time.
• Enables people to organize their personal movement and enable industry to plan their
13
production and distribution of product
Service Characteristics
cont…
Service Characteristics Description
Capacity • Concerned with the supply in transport services
• Is measured by the volume of traffic which can be moved safely in a given
period
• Failure to accommodate extra seats during peak hour will cause
dissatisfaction among passenger.
• However, extra seats means higher expenditure or higher operating cost.
Comfort • An acceptable degree of comfort is essential especially in passenger
transport
• Physical comfort: seats, air-conditioned, refreshment, sleeping
accommodations, terminal facilities
• During peak hour, crowding creates discomfort for users as the system
copes with temporary surge in demand.
• If problem is not being managed properly, passenger might shift to other
modes of transportation or other service providers.
THE END
ANY QUESTION?