Multi Modal Transport

Dr. M.P.Singh

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 firms 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.

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.

Figure 9-1 The Carrier Selection Decision

The Transport Selection Decision

Carrier Selection Determinants:
Cost Transit time and reliability
Can be a competitive advantage Lowers customers inventory costs

Capability Accessibility Security

Carrier Selection Determinants and User Implications

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

The Basic Modes of Transportation

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 91.
*(a ton-mile is one ton of cargo carried one mile, and is a standard statistical measurement used in the transportation industry).

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.

The Basic Modes of Transportation: Railroads

This would permit seamless dockto-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.

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)

On the Line: Its the Service, Stupid

Its 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.

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.

Overview of Interstate Motor Carrier Industry

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.

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.

Overview of the Domestic Water Carrier Industry

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.

The Basic Modes of Transportation: Domestic Water Carriers

Relatively low cost mode; do not own the rights-of-way; easy entry and exit. Typically a long distance mover of low value, bulk-type mineral, agricultural and forest products Low rates but long transit times Low accessibility but high capability

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

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.

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)

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 rights-ofway. Transit times are fastest of the modes, but rates are highest.

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.

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.

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.

Performance Rating of Modes

Selection Determinants Railroad Cost 3
Transit time Reliability Capability 3 Motor 4 2

Modes Water
2 4

Air 5 1

Pipeline 1 ---

2
1 2 3

1
2 1 2

4
4 4 4

3
3 3 1

--5 -----

Accessibility
Security

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 carriers equipment will handle.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Legal Classifications of Carriers: Private Carriers

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

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 firms plants and/or warehouses. Requires a large capital investment. Requires management time and expertise.

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.

Types of Intermodal Services

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.

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 consigees 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%.

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.

Intermodal Transportation: Piggyback

Trailer-on-Flat-Car (TOFC)

Over the road trailers ride in special rail cars. Takes advantage of motor flexibility and rails long haul economic advantage. Multiple service plans for shippers. Some railroads provide varying levels of service, differentially priced.

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

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

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

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.