Introduction
Background and Significance of Land Transportation in Supply Chain Management
Transportation is essential to the supply chain because it allows products and services to move from one location to another. Land transportation, which includes road, rail, and pipeline transit, is one of the most popular means of transportation employed in the supply chain (Goldsby et al., 2014). As a result of the rise of global commerce and the necessity to carry commodities across great distances, land-based travel has become more crucial. Businesses must choose the best form of shipping by land to guarantee that items get to consumers on time and at the lowest possible cost.
Purpose and Objectives
This study aims to look at land transportation through the lens of corporate logistics/supply chain management. The goal is to investigate the various forms of land transportation and compare their advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, speed, capacity, and flexibility. The study also attempts to examine the significant factors that managers must consider when selecting a mode of land transportation, as well as the role of technology in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of land transportation.
Scope and Limitations
This paper focuses on land transportation, especially road, rail, and pipeline modes. Other types of transportation, such as air or sea travel, will not be covered in this study. Two limitations of this research are the availability of data, which may affect the depth of the analysis, and the absence of a particular case study, which may offer more concrete instances of the principles covered.
Literature Review
Overview of Land Transportation Modes (Road, Rail, Pipeline)
Land transportation modalities include road, rail, and pipeline, each with advantages and disadvantages. Road transportation is the most frequently utilized land transportation in the United States, accounting for more than 70% of all freight moved (Goldsby et al., 2014). Road transportation is adaptable and can reach almost any area, making it ideal for modest and urgent goods. On the other hand, road transportation is the costliest, particularly over long distances, and is prone to congestion and delays.
For long distances and huge cargoes, railway travel is an efficient means of land transportation. Rail transit is less costly than road transportation, can carry larger loads, and is less prone to congestion and delays (Goldsby et al., 2014). On the other hand, rail transit is less flexible than transportation by road and needs different means to reach the end destination (Wilson et al., 2022).
Pipeline transportation is a cost-effective and efficient method of transporting liquids and gases. Pipeline shipping has a large capacity, is dependable, and is inexpensive per unit of commodity moved. On the other hand, pipeline transportation is less versatile than rail and road networks and is only appropriate for particular items.
Table 1: Strengths and weaknesses of each mode.
Factors Affecting the Choice of Land Transportation Mode
The type of cargo is an important consideration when selecting a form of land transportation. Perishable food and medications need quick and dependable transit, making road transportation more appropriate. Due to the larger capacity of trains, bulky and heavy commodities such as building materials, on the other hand, need rail transportation (Boysen et al., 2016). When deciding on a land transportation form, the delivery site’s distance and location are also significant factors.
Road transportation, for example, is better suited to short distances, but rail transit is better suited to long distances. The delivery point’s location also influences the method of transportation chosen since specific sites may be inaccessible by particular kinds of transportation. Cost, speed, capacity, and flexibility are significant concerns in selecting the best method of transportation (Goldsby et al., 2014). Road transportation may be more costly but more flexible, while rail transit may be less expensive but less adaptable.
Role of Technology in Enhancing Land Transportation Efficiency and Effectiveness
Technology is essential in improving the efficiency and efficacy of land transportation. GPS, telematics, and real-time data analytics can enhance transportation operations (Narain et al., 2019). Companies may improve transportation routes and prevent traffic congestion by using GPS technology to give real-time position and routing information (Wang et al., 2021). GPS may also help with cargo tracking and real-time delivery information.
Telematics technology may give real-time data on vehicle performance, driver behavior, and maintenance requirements, allowing businesses to maximize vehicle efficiency while lowering costs (Dehgani & Jafari Navimipour, 2019). Real-time data analytics may give significant insights into transportation operations, such as time to delivery, capacity utilization, and drivers’ performance (Hrušovský et al., 2021). This data may enhance transportation operations, provide better customer service, and save expenses.
Communication in Land Transportation and Supply Chain Management
Transport by land and supply chain management relies heavily on collaboration and communication. The capacity of multiple stakeholders to interact and communicate effectively is critical to the supply chain’s efficiency and effectiveness (Dehgani & Jafari Navimipour, 2019). Collaboration refers to the collaborative effort of several parties to accomplish a shared objective, while correspondence relates to information sharing between various stakeholders. Effective collaboration and communication enhance visibility, shorter lead times, higher efficiency, and more informed decisions.
Methodology
Research Design and Methodology
A qualitative case study methodology was used for the research design of this study. This is because it allows for an in-depth analysis of a specific phenomenon. The investigation will center on businesses in the field of logistics that are located in the United States. A questionnaire will be sent to critical supply chain stakeholders to gather data (Jilcha Sileyew, 2020). These crucial stakeholders include carriers, shippers, suppliers, distributors, and other transportation and logistics parties. A standardized interview guide that contains open-ended questions will be used to conduct the interviews that are scheduled to take place. The findings will be analyzed using an Excel spreadsheet, and from there, a decision will be made on the most effective form of transportation.
Limitations and Assumptions
The most significant shortcoming of this research is the possibility of bias occurring throughout the process of data collecting and analysis. This research depends on self-reported data from stakeholders, which may be prone to social desirability bias or other types of bias depending on the context (Jilcha Sileyew, 2020). The research will address this constraint by using several sources of data. Triangulating the results to assure the validity of the conclusions drawn from the study. Another research assumption is that teamwork and communication are critical success elements in land-based transport and supply chain management. While the research supports this, other variables probably substantially impact the supply chain’s performance.
Results
Findings and Results
Table 2: Gender.
According to the statistics in Table 2, 14 (70%) of the 20 persons in the supply chain are male, and 6 (30%) are female. This distribution implies a gender imbalance in the supply chain, with more males than females.
Table 3: Occupation.
Based on the information provided in Table 3, it is possible to conclude that the supply chain engaged in the firm contains four important participants: carriers, shippers, suppliers, and distributors. Distributors are the most common stakeholders, accounting for 45% of the supply chain with a frequency of 9. This implies that the distribution stage is essential to the business’s supply chain. On the other hand, carriers, shippers, and suppliers have a lower frequency, with 5, 3, and 3 correspondingly. These actors may play a minor part in the supply chain or may be outsourced by the company.
Table 4: Preferred Mode of Transport.
Based on the data in Table 4, it is possible to infer that road transport is the most favored method of transit in the supply chain, accounting for 60% of the total frequency. Road transport is the most often utilized transportation for supply chain firms. Rail travel is the second most popular method of transportation, with a frequency of 6, accounting for 30% of the total frequency. This implies that rail transportation is still helpful for some industries, although it is less often utilized than road transportation. The frequency of pipeline transport is 2, which is just 10% of the entire frequency. This suggests that pipeline transport is confined to specialized sectors such as oil and gas and is not extensively employed in the supply chain.
According to the data in Table 4, companies prefer road transportation owing to its flexibility, quickness, and accessibility. Road transportation allows items to be transported directly from the point of origin to the end of destination, making it a popular alternative for enterprises with time-sensitive shipments. It is also readily accessible and can reach areas where rail or pipeline transportation is unavailable. It is crucial to note, however, that the method of transportation chosen may also be determined by the type of the items being carried, the distance to be traveled, and the cost involved. As a result, before selecting a method of transport for supply chain logistics, organizations should analyze all considerations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study discovered that road transport is the preferred mode of land transport. This is because it is reliable, less expensive over short distances, and the most developed mode of transport compared to other modes of transport. This was concluded from factors such as the nature of the goods to be transported, distance, and delivery time. Technology has also played a vital role in land transport, where real-time trackers enable real-time monitoring of shipments.
References
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