A well-functioning freight transportation system is an essential element in any successful economy. Freight transport has emerged as one of the most critical and dynamic aspects of the transport sector where change has become the norm. It is now the main element supporting global commodity and more generally supply chains. Freight itself can be defined as the goods transported by truck, train, ship or plane.
The development of transport services and adequate infrastructures to handle freight flows have become an important factor of economic competition between regions.
In practice, sea freight containers are rarely transferred to aircraft due in part to their weight; but there is an important intermodal connection involving lighter air freight containers and truck transport. A final example of intermodalism is the truck-to-rail transfer of trailers.
Major tools for improving efficiency are the use of information and communication systems to better plan, monitor and control the transport activities. The impact of information technology on the freight transportation system has been significant and likely will increase sharply. The steadily declining prices of new technology, coupled with an increased awareness among freight operators of the technology’s potential benefits, will encourage the freight industry to increase its use of information technology. The industry already has implemented cutting-edge technologies to improve customer service and to reduce expenditures.
Freight Transportation
